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PRINCETON,  N.  J. 


BV  3175  .N5  N47  1885 
Nergarian,  Garabed. 
A  brief  history  of  the 
beginning  of  the  mission 


NOV  [d  hiio 


BRIBK   HISTORY 

OF  THE 

BEGIJVJV'IJVG 

or  THE 

MISSION  WORK 

IN 

NICOMEDIA 


American  Board  of  Foreign  Missions. 


By  rev.  GARABED  NERGARARIAN. 


WAYNESBORO,  PA.: 

Gazette  Steam  Printing  House. 

1885, 


PREFACE. 


,  Under  the  Missionaries  sent  out  by  the  American  Board 

pf  Foreign  Missions,  the  parents  of  the  Author  of  this  brief 
;ketch  were  among  the  first  converts,  hence  he  himself  grew 
ip  with  the  work,  as  it  were,  and,  in  his  early  life,  became 
dentified  with  it.  He  taught  school  in  his  native  city,  Nico- 
nedia,  for  several  years,  after  which  time  he  entered  a  Semi- 
ary  in  Asia  Minor,  where  he  graduated.  He  was  then  sent 
ut  as  a  native  Missionary  by  the  American  Board.  He  was 
reatl}"  blessed  in  his  labors  and  succeeded  in  establishing  a 
urch  in  which  he  was  ordained  by  the  missionaries  as  a  min- 
ter.     In  this  capacity  he  labored  for  eight  years. 

Having  a  great  desire  for  self- improvement,  in  order 
at  he  might  better  serve  his  people,  he  was  induced  to 
)me  to  America  for  further  study  and  the  acquiring  of  a 
lowledge  of  English,  since  this  opens  up  an  avenue  to  so 
any  commentaries  and  books  of  Biblical  reference.  Since 
s  arrival  in  America  he  spent  a  little  more  than  two  years 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary.  During  the  past  year 
J  has  been  in  attendance  at  the  Theological  Seminary  at 


J 


^ttysburg. 

This  brief  history  of  Missionary  work  has  been  written 
the  request  of  his  many  friends  in  America.     Much  of  the 


information  herein  contained  was  received  from  his  parentfe, 
and  many  things  have  been  written  from  his  own  personal 
knowledge. 

As  it  is  his  purpose  to  return  to  his  native  home  as  soon 
as  he  can  perfect  his  arrangements  to  that  end,  he  wishes  to 
leave  this  little  book  in  America  as  a  memento  to  his  many 
kind  friends. 

Waynesboro,  Pa.,  September  i,  1885. 


NICOMEDIA. 


NIcomedia,  historically,  holds  a  prominent  place  in  church 
history  concerning  the  first  period  of  the  Christian  Church. 
At  present  this  city  is  generally  known  among  the  Turks  by 
the  name  of  Ismid. 

With  reference  to  the  name  Ismid  there  is  a  tradition  cur- 
rent among  the  Turks  which  is  as  follows  :  Many  years  ago. 
when  the  Turks  first  became  the  conquerors  of  this  country, 
one  city  after  another  was  taken  by  them  except  Nicomedia 
which  was  very  strongly  fortified.  By  them  the  city  was  be- 
sieged for  two  years,  yet  it  showed  no  signs  of  surrender. 
They  then  employed  a  stratagem  to  effect  their  purpose. 
Some  sections  of  the  country  were  then  (as  now)  noted  for  their 
numerous  flocks  of  goats,  and  the  commander  hit  upon  the 
happy  thought  of  employing  these  to  accom.plish  his  purpose. 
Causing  many  thousands  of  them  to  be  brought  together 
upon  a  certain  night  he  had  candles  tied  to  their  horns  and 
caused  them  to  be  driven  from  the  Turkish  camp,  which  was 
below  the  city,  on  the  plains  along  the  sea  shore,  towards  the 
city.  The  defenders  of  the  city  seeing  in  the  distance  the 
great  light  made  by  these  goats  with  their  candles,  and  ob- 
serving their  rapid  approach,  became  greatly  alarmed,  and  all 
hastened  forward  to  defend  that  part  of  the  city  where  they 
expected  the  supposed  attack,  leaving  the  northern  part  al- 

5 


most  entirely  defenceless.  The  Turkish  commander,  in  the 
mean  time,  took  advantage  of  this  carelessness  on  their  part 
and  entered  the  city  before  the  people  became  aware  of  the 
deception.  A  most  fearful  and  bloody  struggle  ensued,  in 
which  the  Turks  came  off  victorious.  The  Turkish  comman- 
der, however,  seeing  that  so  many  of  his  best  soldiers  were 
sacrificed  in  this  terrible  engagement,  angrily  cried  out, 
"Ism  e-it !"  Hence  the  nam.e,  Isrnid.  hm-e  signifies  the, 
7ianie  of,  and  it,  dog. 

Just  at  the  upper  part  of  the  city,  at  the  place  where  the 
conquerors  entered,  is  built  a  mosque  in  memory  of  Sultan 
Ochran  who  is  supposed  to  be  the  victor  of  the  city. 

Back  of  the  city,  behind  the  hill,  is  a  large  Turkish  ceme- 
tery, in  which  are  buried  those  who  are  said  to  have  iallen  in 
this  battle.  It  is  for  this  reason  called  by  them  the  "Cemetery 
of  the  Martyrs." 

Nicomedia,  the  former  capital  of  Bithynia,  was  one  of  the 
grandest  and  miost  flourishing  cities  of  the  old  world.  It  is 
noted  for  its  once  having  contained  the  Imperial  residence  of 
Constantine,  Galerius,  Julius,*  and  others.  It  receives  its 
nam.e  from  Nicomedes  I.     The  city  was  seven  times  visited 


*ln  the  early  clays  of  the  writer's  father,  there  existed  ruins  of  the  palace  of 
Julius  (called  Julius  the  wicked).  Upon  these  ruins  the  boys  of  the  neig-hborhood 
used  to  have  their  play  grounds.  Sultan  Mahmoud  II.  built  a  beautirul  palace 
(kiosk)  upon  the  sight  of  these  ruins.  The  materials  employed  in  its  construction 
were  mostly  of  wood,  it  being-  a  frame  building.  Hither  the  Suitan  frequently  re- 
paired, for  it  was  his  delight  to  visit  this  kiosk. 

During  the  Crimean  war,  this  palace  was  occupied  by  the  British  soldiery  and 
nsed  as  a  hospital.  It  was  henceforth  considered  polluted,  since  the  Sultan  is  sup- 
posed never  to  occupy  a  building  afier  others  have  wsed  it,  much  less  so  after  hav- 
ing been  used  by  Christian  soldiers  who  are  regarded  as  giaours  (infidels).  For 
this  reason  Sultan  Abdoul  Mejid  caused  it  to  be  torn  down,  aad,  in  its  stead,  built 
a  beautiful  stone  structure,  which  he  never  lived  to  complete,  lie  was  succeeded 
by  his  brother  Abdoul  Aziz  as  Sultan,  who  carried  the  work  to  completion,  but 
who,  for  some  unknown  reason,  never  spent  a  night  within  its  walls,  and  although 
he  visited  it  at  times,  it  is  strange  to  say  that  tho-e  visits  were  never  prolonged 
above  a  few  minutes  upon  any  wccasion.  He  however  built  him  a  summer  resi- 
dence near  the  city,  on  its  western  side,  which  he  frequently  visited  and  spent  his 
time,  in  company  with  his  wives  and  officers,  in  the  chase,  for  he  was  exceedingly 
fond  of  hunting. 


by  very  severe  earthquakes,"^  and  in  the  year  260,  it  was 
threatened  with  overthrow  by  the  Goths.  It  is  situated  upon 
beautiful  hills  which  slope  down  to  the  water's  edge  of  the 
gull  of  Marmora,  about  forty-five  miles  east  of  the  city  of  Con- 
stantinople, in  Asia  Minor,  near  to  Nice,  where  the  great 
church  councils  were  held.  It  was  not  long  since  rendered 
famous  among  Biblical  students  on  account  of  the  discovery 
of  a  very  old  manuscript  pertaining  to  the  teachings  of  the 
twelve  apostles. 

We  learn  from  church  history,  and  other  writings,  that 
this  city  has  passed  through  some  of  the  most  heroic 
ages  of  the  Christian  Church.  As  early  as  the  year  298, 
Galerius  led  a  most  terrible  persecution  against  the  early 
Christians.  At  a  meeting  between  two  Monarchs,  an  imperial 
order  was  passed  causing  the  splendid  church  at  Nicomedia 
to  be  pulled  down.  After  this  an  edict  was  issued  by  the 
Emperor,  ordering  all  Christian  churches  to  be  pulled  down, 
the  sacred  writings  to  be  desLro3'ed,  and  the  meetings  of  the 
Christians  were  henceforth  forbidden.  The  most  terrible 
modes  of  punishment  and  death,  Vv'hich  the  ingenuity  of  an 

*Under  tlie  cit}'  of  Nicomedia  as  it  how  stands,  are  found  manv  evidences  of 
the  ruins  of  the  city  in  its  early  days.  These  consist  ef  ancient  buildings,  walls 
iron  gates,  and  numerous  other  relics,  which  are  all  brouicht  to  light  at  different 
times  when  excavating  for  buildings,  &c.  In  digging  the  foundation  for  the 
Greek  Monastery  which  was  rebuilt  near  the  city,  in  tKe  ye;ir  1S60-61,  a  great 
many  relics,  such  as  the  tombs  of  the  dead,  these  having  sunk  into  the  eart>»  at  the 
time  of  one  ot  these  terrible  convulsions  of  nature  Upon  many  of  these  tombs 
and  other  stones  were  found  images  and  ancient  writings.  Qiiite  a  number  of  them 
were  bought  from  the  Greeks  by  European  antiqu;irians  who  carried  theiti  to  Eu- 
rope. Tliey  also  took  impressio.is  from  the  writings  of  a  great  manv  more  of 
these  stones,  having  with  them  a  certain  kind  of  paper  prepared  for  that  purpose. 
The  writer's  tatlier  was  an  artist,  and  did  much  fine  painting  in  this  Monastery  ; 
hence  it  was  the  writer's  privilege  to  assist  his  father  in  this  work.  He  was  there- 
fore an  every  day  witness  to  these  discoveries  and  very  frequently  saw  these 
writings  copied. 

Just  out  side  the  city — between  it  and  this  same  Monastery — is  situated  the 
Armenian  cemetery  which  is  beautifully  overshadowed  by  state'ly  trees.  It  is  in- 
closed within  a  large  field,  in  which  may  be  seen  jutting  out  from  the  earth,  the 
arched  roof  of  a  large  ancient  Christian  church,  called  Piyur  Perotz,  that  was  also 
Sunk  by  an  earthquake.  Tradition  says  tttat  during  the  terrible  persecutions  of  the 
early  (Christians,  several  thousand  persons  perished  in  this  church,  upon  an  Easter 
holiday,  whither  they  had  fled  for  refuge,  where  they  were  supposed  to  be  spend- 
ing their  tin  e  in  prayer  and  communion  service. 


evil  mind  could  invent,  were,  for  the  purpose,  constructed  in 
the  city.* 

For  those  many  years  of  incessant  persecutions,  never 
before  precedented,  the  brightest  evidences  of  moral  heroism 
and  enthusiastic  readiness  to  suffer  as  martyrs,  were  given 
by  Christians. 

At  first  heathenism  seemed  to  reign  supreme ;  by  it 
Christianity  was  overrun  and  persecuted  with  tortures  the 
most  horrible,  even  to  death.  But  at  last  the  Christians  with 
unsullied  faith,  confessing  their  allegiance  to  Christ  with  joy 
and  martyrdom,  gained  a  complete  victory  over  heathenism. 

For  the  first  time  in  Nicomedia  was  published  that  great 
fundamental  principle  of  religious  liberty,  by  the  edict  of 
Milan,  on  June  13th,  313,  by  which  a  new  era  was  given  to 
the  Christian  Church,  thus  according  full  religious  freedom  to 
all.  After  this,  each  individual  was  permitted  to  worship 
agreeable  to  his  own  belief  and  faith.  Now  there  arose,  all 
over  the  Empire,  many  Christian  Churches,  the  most  stately 
of  which  was  the  Church  of  the  Apostles,  constructed  jq( 
marble  and  other  fine  building  stones.  Everywhere  could 
be  seen  the  signs  and  symbols  of  the  Christian  faith.  In  the 
city  squares  the  heathen  statuary  gave  place  to  that  ol  the 
Christians.  There  was  placed  at  the  entrance  to  the  imper- 
ial palace  an  image  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  where  it  could 
be  seen  by  all  who  might  pass  that  way.  There,  also,  was 
to  be  seen  a  great  picture  of  Victorious  Constantine,  repre- 
sented as  holding  the  Ladaricm,  the  banner  of  the  cross, 
having  under  his  feet  the  great  dragon  of  heathenism,  pierc- 
ed with  arrows. 

•"•In  his  bovhood  davs,  the  writer  frequently  visited  an  old  Greek  Monastery 
where  the  priests  took  special  delight  in  showino^  many  old  paiiitin<?s  represe  nt- 
injj  ihe  horrible  instruments  of  torture  and  death  which  were  used  in  the  perseru- 
tions  of  the  early  christians. 

8 


Still,  under  Julian  of  Nicomedia,  there  appeared  a  "little 
cloud,"  but  it  passed  quickly  away.  It  was  but  the  reaction 
of  expiring  heathenism,  giving  proof  that  its  life  was  already 
exhausted.  The  arrow  which  pierced  the  body  of  Julian^ 
also  brought  death  to  ancient  heathenism,  which  as  it  fell, 
cried  out :  "Nazarine,  thou  hast  conquered." 

It  is  sad  for  Christians  to  see  that  Nicomedia,  Constantiople, 
and  Nice,  together  with  the  surrounding  land,  so  eminently 
connected  with  Biblical  scenes,  as  also  the  Holy  land  so  his- 
torically related  to  the  Christian  Church,  all  of  which  was  the 
very  cradle  of  Christianity,  should  for  five  centuries  be  named 
a  Mohammedan  country  instead  of  being  called  a  Christian 
land.  Yes,  the  land  in  which  the  apostolic  churches  were 
established,  and  where  the  Church  Fathers  fought  against 
paganism,  heathenism  and  heresy,  and  where  many  Christ- 
ians were  burned  to  death,  and,  as  Christian  martyrs  and 
heroes,  colored  that  land  with  their  blood  for  the  love  of 
Christ  and  His  holy  religion. 

To  Christians  it  is  indeed  a  painful  matter,  but  it  is  not 
such  a  strange  thing  after  all.  We  see  that  when  the  Isreal- 
ites  forsook  God^  He  also  forsook  them — expelled  them 
from  their  beloved  country ;  drove  them  into  captivity,  and 
delivered  their  land  to  the  heathen.  We  have  no  doubt  but 
that  the  Mohammedan  in  that  land  is  but  a  rod  in 
God's  hand  to  smite  and  punish  those  corrupted  churches. 
When  the  Oriental  churches  in  that  country  began  to  sink 
the  Church  in  superstition,  and  one  Christian  nation  anathe- 
matized the  other,  then  they,  finding  a  good  chance,  appear- 
ed like  swarming  locusts,  on  a  mission  of  destruction  to  the 
land  which  was  the  cradle  of  Christianity.  They  soon  over- 
threw tlie  Christian  Churches  in  Africa  and  oppressed   those 

9 


in  Asia,  as  we  learn  in  Rev.  11-6 — "I  will  come  unto  you 
quickly  and  remove  thy  candle  stick  out  of  his  place."  But 
blessed  be  the  name  of  God,  although  He  "removes"  His 
church,  He  never  destroys  it.  In  due  time,  He  again  visits 
it  with  his  kindness. 

While  the  Oriental  Christian  nations  were  deprived  of 
spiritual  light  and  life,  and  were  under  bondage  and  degra- 
dation, God,  in  His  great  mercy  stirred  up  the  American 
Christians  to  send  us  their  Missionaries  to  raise  them  to  the 
^lory  of  their  former  days.  And  blessed  be  that  day  in 
which  they  not  only  prayed  for  the  coming  of  the  kingdom 
of  God  in  that  land,  but  also  sent  us  the  gospel  in  its  sim.- 
plicity,  and  some  of  their  best  men,  whose  graves  in  that 
country  bear  witness  to  their  labors  for  us. 


10 


CHAPTER  !, 


A  Brief  History  of  the  Beginning  of  the  Missionary 
Work  in  Nicomedia  by  the  American  Board  gf 
Foreign  Missions,  and  the  Glorious  Results 
FROM  THE  Same. 

A  little  more  than  fifty  years  ;igo  missionary  visits 
to  Nicomedia  were  made  by  Dr.  Wm.  Goodell  and  Rev. 
Mr.  Dwight,  Missionaries  sent  out  by  the  American  Board  of 
Missions,  who  brought  with  them  a  few  copies  of  the  Gospel. 
When  they  came  to  the  city,  they  stopped  at  an  Armenian 
Han  (Turkish  Hotel)  which  was  kept  by  a  man  whose  name 
was  Mom  Ju*  Aghacy  to  whom  they  presented  one  of  these 
Gospels.  This  man  observing  the  pure  character  and  upright 
conduct  of  these  good  Missionaries,  introduced  them  to  his 
two  friends,  Hohannes  Nergararian  and  Murad  Varjhabed, 
The  former  of  the  last  two  named  persons  was  an  aged  phy- 
sician and  one  of  the  principal  men  in  the  Armenian  church  in 
which  he  was  highly  honored  and  respected  ;  the  latter  was  a 
man  who  was  noted  for  his  learning  and  scientific  research, 
being  a  professor  of  Science  in  the  great  Monastery  of  Armash 
and  having  there  taught  many  priests  and  bishops  of  the 
Armenian  church,  for  which  reason  he  had  a  very  great  influ- 
ence over  the  Armenian  nation.  He,  however,  loved  the 
honor  of  men  rather  than  the  glory  of  God,  but  notwith- 


Mom  Ju,  Turkish  for  candle  seller. 

II 


standing  this  he  became  the  means  through  whom  Simon*  of 
Moosh,  a  student  in  the  Monastery,  received  the  blessed 
truths  of  the  gospel  and  thus  became  an  earnest  Christian 
worker  in  the  cause  of  Christ.  Through  the  instrumentality 
of  this  young  student,  the  following  persons  were  induced  to 
search  after  the  simple  truths  of  the  Gospel,  viz  :  Hajy  Mel- 
Kon  Karajian,  Kit  Varjhabed,Baghdosar,  Garabed  Nergara- 
rian,t  Megerditch  Zaparar,  Harutiun  Zaparar,  and  Baron 
(Mr.)  Avedes,  a  young  man  who  afterwards  became  one  of 
the  first  students  under  Rev.  Cyrus  Hamlin,  D.  J).,  in  the 
Babak  Seminary.  These  young  men  were  wont  to  retire  to 
the  woods,  mountains,  caves,  and  other  isolated  places,  where 
unmolested  they  might  secretly  read  and  search  the  scriptures 
and  hold  prayer  meetings. 

There  were  now  several  American  Missionaries  in  Con- 
stantinople, who  began  to  make  private  visits  to  these  con- 
verts from  time  to  time,  secretly  scattering  the  precious  seed 
of  the  Gospel  among  them  and  their  f^^miilies,  which  has  since 
borne  so  much  blessed  fruit. 

Until  now  the  work  was  carried  on  in  secret,  but  God, 
in  His  all  wise  providence,  saw  fit  to  provide  still  other  means 
to  carry  forward  this  good  work. 

*This  man  is  well  versed  in  the  ancient  or  classic  Armenian  literature,  and  is 
a  e;-reat  instrument  in  advancing  the  truths  of  the  gospel  among  his  people,  and, 
from  that  time  to  the  present,  is"  a  much  honored  and  beloved  minister  in  a  Prot- 
estant church  in  Asia  Minor. 

vTliis  man  was  the  writer's  uncle. 


12 


CHAPTER  11. 


Sultan  Abdoul  Mejid,  being  very  desirous  to  awaken  with- 
in the  minds  of  his  people  a  spirit  of  industry  and  improve- 
ment, established  a  woolen  factory  a  few  miles  from  the  city. 
That  he  might  be  the  more  successful  in  this  enterprise,  he 
employed  a  gentleman  from  England  to  superintend  the  fac- 
tory. This  gentleman  was  Mr.  Beans,  who  proved  to  be  a 
true  and  noble  christian  man.  Mr.  Beans  rented  a  large 
Turkish  nobleman's  residence  situated  near  the  market  place. 
As  this  gentleman  and  all  his  house  was  under  the  protection 
of  the  English  government,  all  who  were  disposed  to  do  so, 
were  permitted  by  him  to  meet  here  for  worship,  and  thus  be 
protected  from  molestation. 

At  this  time  it  began  to  be  whispered  about  that  a  new 
heresy  had  appeared  among  the  people.  Aghavni,"^'  the  Arch- 
bishop, hearing  this,  summoned  into  his  presence  Hohannes 
Nergararian,  a  sub  acolyte,  and  told  him  that  he  had  learned 
that  a  heresy  was  among  the  people,  and  that  he  was  informed 
his  son  Garabed  was  reported  as  having  become  a  heretic. 
The  Bishop  began  to  make  threats  to  Nergararian,  saying  that 
if  he  would  persuade  his  son  to  desist  from  this  strange  doc- 
trine, all  would  be  well,  but  if  his  son,  should  persist  in 
that  way,  he  would  have  to  abide  the  evil  consequences  that 

*Afjhavni  signifies  dove. 

13 


were  sure  to  follow.  Nergararian  at  once  forbade  his  son's 
attending  the  meetings  of  the  so  called  heretics.  But  in  this 
the  father  was  not  successful,  for  the  gospel  truth  had  already 
taken  deep  root  in  the  heart  of  his  son. 

Seeing  that  the  youth  would  not  yield,  they  caused 
him  to  be  bound  in  chains  and  thrown  into  prison  for  three 
days  and  nights  with  the  hope  of  scaring  him  into  submission, 
but  in  vain.  He  was  then  banished  to  the  Monastery  of 
Armash  as  an  exile  for  two  years. 

In  the  meantime,  Nergararian's  other  two  sons  and  his 
married  daughters  with  their  husbands  became  convinced  of 
the  Gospel  and  accepted  its  divine  precepts.  When  this 
became  known  to  him,  he  drove  them  from  under  the  shelter 
of  his  roof,  and  forbade  their  return,  unless  they  would  renounce 
their  adherence  to  this  faith.  This  he  did  not  do  so  much 
from  the  zeal  which  he  had  lor  the  church,  for  he  was  not 
ignorant  of  the  truth,  but  he  did  it  that  he  might  retain  the 
honor  and  respect  of  men. 

During  this  time  Dr.  Smith,  who  was  a  missionary,  and 
also  a  physician,  visited  the  city.  He  was  invited  to  the  house 
of  a  Protestant  brother  to  preach,  but  could  not  make  his  way 
there  on  account  of  the  excited  throng  which  had  gathered  in 
the  street,  his  purpose  having  been  made  known  to  them* 
He,  however,  succeeded  in  getting  to  the  house  of  this  broth- 
er's sister  by  passing  through  a  less  frequented  street.  Here 
he  preached  to  a  large  and  attentive  audience.  His  sermon 
was  a  most  earnest  and  impressive  one.  The  words  of  life 
which  he  expounded  to  them,  carried  conviction  to  their 
hearts,  and  there  was  a  powerful  demonstration  of  the  spirit 
in  the  audience.  It  appeared  as  if  a  still  small  voice  had 
whispered  in  their  ears,  ''Flee  the  wrath  which  is  to  come 

14 


and  the  ceremonial  worship  of  the  Church,  but  strive  to  follow 
Christ  in  spirit  and  truth,  that  you  may  save  your  souls." 
Henceforth  the  light  of  the  Gospel  began  to  dawn  in  the  miftds 
of  these  people,  and  they  gradually  withdrew  themselves  from 
their  mother  church,  the  observance  of  whose  many  rites  and 
ceremonies  were  supposed  to  eiisure  Heaven  to  them. 

Some  time  after  this,  these  brethren  were  also  visited  by 
Rev.  B.  Schneider  whose  readiness  to  preach  the  Gospel  was 
always  "instant  in  season"  and  "out  of  season."  He,  seeing 
the  inward  m.anifestations  of  the  spirit  operating  upon  the 
hearts  of  these  converts  and  their  increasing  hatred  against 
the  superstitions  of  the  church  on  the  one  hand,  and  their 
persecutions  on  the  other,  advised  them  to  use  christian  for- 
bearance in  all  things.  He  further  advised  them  to  be  pru- 
dent, and  not  to  talk  about  the  faults  and  inconsistencies  of 
the  church,  but  to  be  steadfast  in  the  faith,  and  try  to  shine 
as  christian  lights  among  them.  This  advice  was  timely,  and 
the  brethren  profited  much  by  it. 

The  people,  however,  were  stirred  up  and  excited  to  open 
persecution  by  the  national  leaders  and  heads  of  the  church. 

The  Priests  went  from  house  to  house  and  gathered  up 
all  the  Protestant  books  and  tracts  upon  which  they  could 
lay  their  hands  and  consigned  them  to  the  flames.  Once  fiva 
Priests  went  to  the  house  of  Surpuhe*  Nergararian  and  told 
her  that  they  had  heard  that  both  she  and  her  husband  had 
a  Testament  and  were  reading  it,  w^hich  act  is  an  unlawful 
thing  for  a  layman,  much  more  so  for  a  woman  to  do.  "The 
Patriarch,"  said  they,  "has  ordered  us  to  collect  these  books. 
If  you  want  to  know  the  Scriptures  you  must  listen  to  the 
priests  in  the  church.      She  then  answered,  "I  am  surprised  ! 

*The  writer's  mother. 

15 


Why  should  the  people  be  forbidden  to  read  the  scriptures, 
when  St.  John  says,  'I  write  unto  you  litUe  children  ;  I  wTite 
unto  you  young  men ;'  and  again  'I  write  unto  you  fathers.' 
And  Christ  also  commands  us  to  search  the  Scriptures. 
Besides  this,  since  my  husband  has  read  this  book,  he  has  be- 
come a  temperate  man,  kind  and  indulgent  to  his  family,  but 
to  whom  you  ne\'er  before  came  to  advise  as  to  his  conduct. 
But  now,  since  he  has  been  reformed  by  the  reading  of  this 
book,  Jive  of  you  long  bearded  priests,  who  heretofore  never 
even  inquired  into  our  spiritual  condition,  now  come  to  advise, 
and  dictate  to  us  what  we  shall  do  ;  are  you  therefore  not 
ashamed  to  ask  for  it  ?"  Fearing  that  her  beloved  Gospel 
would  be  taken  from  her,  she  immediately  ran  up  stairs,  took 
her  precious  book  and  threw  it  into  the  loft  of  the  house,  so 
that  they  might  not  find  it. 

The  priests  angrily  left  the  house,  and  after  this  the  people 
began  to  publish  her  and  her  husband  as  Protestants.  They 
concluded  that  if  reading  the  scriptures  and  practicing  its  pre- 
cepts was  Protestantism,  it  must  surely  be  a  good  thing,  for 
it  makes  people  morally  better ;  hence  that  the  report  brand- 
ing the  Protestants  as  a  bad  people  must  be  untrue.  In  time 
both  she  and  her  husband  became  identified  with  the  mission- 
ary GQUse.  She  now  not  only  read  the  Gospel  more  zealously, 
but  she  began  to  teach  her  lady  friends  and  neighbors  this 
Gospel,  by  reading  and  preaching  to  them.  Some  who  be- 
fore were  enemies  to  these  Protestants  now  became  convinced 
of  the  truth  and  also  cast  their  lot  with  this  christian  family 
and  others  who  had  already  espoused  this  cause.* 

*This  ladv  has  for  Iwcntv  years  been  connected  with  the  American  Board  of 
Foreig-n  Missions  as  a  bible  teacher  amon^  the  native  ladies,  which  position  s!ie 
still  honorably  tills,  being-  one  of  tlie  most  zealons,  earnest  and  successful  work- 
ers in  this  (jood  cause. 

i6 


CHAPTER 


Tlie  reader's  attention  will  now  be  directed  to  Hajy  Mel- 
kon  Karajian  for  a  short  time  to  show  the  shrewdness  with 
which  these  native  brethren  were  sonictimts  obhged  to  over- 
come great  difficukies. 

To  this  gtntleman  a  box  of  books  was  sent  by  the 
Missionaries.  Learning  that  it  was  at  the  Custom  House, 
he  went  t^uite  kite  in  the  evening — when  but  few  peo- 
ple are  accustomed  to  be  in  the  pubhc  places  and  upon  the 
streets — and  brought  it  to  his  house.  Notwithstanding  this 
precaution,  it  was  reported  to  some  of  the  principal  officers  of 
the  church  that  a  box  of  Protestant  books  was  received 
by  him.  These  officers  at  once  called  a  church  coun- 
cil as  to  the  matter,  in  which  it  was  decided  that  these 
books  must  be  found  and  destroyed,  and  that  Karajian  should 
be  banished  from  the  city.  A  sexton  who  was  a  secret  disci- 
ple or  friend  of  these  Protestant  brethren,  and  who  being  pre- 
sent at  this  council  heard  this  decision,  immediately  went 
and  informed  him  of  their  purpose,  thus  putting  him  upon 
his  guard.  Karajian  forthwith  called  a  Protestant  brother 
named  Hagop  Beghadosian,  who  was  a  gardener,  to  aid  him 
in  concealing  the  books.  It  is  the  custom  of  these  gard- 
eners to  carry  their  manure  in  panniers  placed  upon  the  back 
of  a  mule  or  horse  to  their  gardens.  The  gardener  took  the 
books  and  put  them  in  the  bottom  of  his  panniers,  and  plac- 

17 


ing  a  doth  upon  them,  covered  them  with  manure.  Hav- 
ing thus  concealed  them,  he  conveyed  them  to  his  garden 
where  they  were  secreted  in  a  place  of  safety.  Scarcely  had 
the  books  been  removed  w^hen  the  priests  came,  accompanied 
by  a  number  of  the  church  officials  and  police,  followed  by 
an  excited  mob,  to  search  for  the  books.  The  search,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  proved  a  fruitless  one.  The  mob,  seeing 
their  design  frustrated,  became  furious  with  rage,  but  since 
nothing  could  be  effected  or  proven  they  were  obliged  to  re- 
turn without  molesting  or  harming  any  one. 

A  portion  of  these  books  were  distributed  among  the 
people  of  the  city,  and  the  remainder  were  sent  to  an  Arme-  . 
nian  gentleman  named  Kavalgian,  in  the  city  of  Ada-Pazar, 
about  eighteen  miles  east  of  Nicomedia.  By  these  means  the 
Gospel  fire  was  enkindled  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  all  o^^er 
these  cities. 

When  the  priests  and  national  leaders  saw  that,  in  spite  of 
their  efiorts  to  suppress  this  missionary  movement,  these  re- 
ligious books  and  tracts  were  being  scattered  abroad  in 
the  nation,  and  that  many  of  them  had  already  embraced 
this  new  doctrine,  they  began  a  most  violent  persecution. 
One  evening,  at  a  very  unusual  time,  the  people  were  sunimoned 
to  church  by  the  church  crier,  who  heralded  abroad  the  news 
that  a  special  order  had  been  received  from  the  Patriarch. 
After  a  great  concourse  of  people  had  assen-ibled  together,  one 
of  the  priests  read  the  patriarch's  order  and  urged  them  to  re- 
sist this  new  doctrine  with  might  and  main,  and  harangued 
them  to  open  persecution  and  violence. 

The  next  day  the  Armenian  representatives  were  sum- 
moned from  the  neighboring  towns  and  villages  and  organiz- 
ed into  a  General  Council.      On  the  outside  of  the  building, 

i8 


in  through  the  entrance,  on  both  sides  of  the  walk,  the  city 
roughs  and  rabble  were  stationed  with  club-like  weapons  in 
their  hands.  The  Protestants  were  then  summoned  to  ap- 
pear before  this  General  Council.  The  Bishop  examined  each 
one  of  these  individually,  demanding  of  him  whether  he 
would  henceforth  obey  the  behests  of  the  Council,  or  abide 
the  evil  consequences  w^hich  were  sure  to  follow. 

When  Zeparar  Megerditch  was  brought  before  this  august 
personage,  he  bravely  answered  that  it  was  his  purpose  to 
stand  firm  in  his  faith  and  maintain  the  truth,  notwithstanding 
their  threats,  and  ended  by  quoting  the  language  of  Peter 
and  John,  "Whether  it  be  right  in  the  sight  of  God,  to  heark- 
en unto  you  more  than  to  God,  judge  ye."  One  of  the  chief 
men  in  the  council  said  :  "Baron  Megerditch,  I  have  read  and 
studied  both  the  Psalms  and  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  do  you 
therefore  presume  to  teach  us  the  scriptures  ?"  This  was  in- 
tended as  a  rebuke.  There  was  a  wealthy  gardener  in  the 
Council,  who,  seeing  the  readiness  with  which  Megerditch  quot- 
ed the  scriptures,  (he  being  only  a  common  plasterer  as  his 
trade  name  indicates,)  said  to  him,  "When  did  you  become 
so  learned  ?"  He  replied,  "When  yoic  were  planting  your 
egg  plants,  I  was  reading  and  studying  the  Bible." 

Harutiun  Zeparar  was  next  called.  The  Bishop  asked 
him,  "Have  you  not  greatly  dishonored  your  father-in-law*  by 
following  after  this  heresy  ?"  He  answered,  "I  greatly  dis- 
honored him  when  I  sought  pleasure  in  the  public  wine 
houses.  I  was  as  a  lost  sheep,  but  nona  came  to  seek  me,  for 
the  shepherd  of  the  flock  was  an  hireling.  But  I  have  found 
the  true  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  my  soul  who  gave  His  life 
for  me." 


•*lIohannes  Nergararian, 

19 


Thus,  one  by  one,  all  were  brought  before  the  Council  and 
examined. 

A  \'ery  influential  Armenian,  named  Kevork  Aga,  said, 
in  the  course  of  making  some  remarks  before  this  Council,  "I 
have  an  only  son  whom  I  would  rather  follow  to  his  grave 
than  see  Protestantism  go  on  unmolested,  without  making 
an  effort  on  my  part  in  helping  to  root  it  out  from  our  midst." 
In  a  few  days  his  son  was  no  more  numbered  with  the  living. 
How  easily  an  over-ruling  Providence  can  thwart  the  evil 
purposes  of  men  ! 

In  this  Council  they  were  at  a  loss  to  know  how  they 
might  be  able  to  subdue  this  influence  which  had  already  be- 
come a  power  among  the  people  of  the  nation.  They  finally 
decided  to  send  the  priests  and  deacons  to  the  wives  and 
families  of  those  persons  who  had  espoused  the  Protestant 
faith.  These,  by  using  arguments  and  threats,  were,  if  possi- 
ble, to  turn  the  influence  of  wife  and  children  against  the  hus- 
band, thus  fulfilling  the  words  of  Christ  as  we  see  by  reading- 
Math,  lo :  35,  which  says,  "For  I  come  to  set  a  man  at  vari- 
ence  against  his  father,  and  the  daughter  against  her  mother, 
and  the  daughter-in-law  against  her  mother-in-law." 

The  Council  also  drew  up  a  confession  of  faith  setting 
forth  the  doctrines  of  the  church.  Thus  all  who  were  sus- 
pected of  Protestantism,  were  asked  to  acknowledge  by  affix- 
ing thereto  their  signature.  Those  who  would  refuse  to  do 
so  were  to  be  anathematized  and  expelled  from  the  church, 
and  more  than  this,  they  were  to  be  deprived  from  having 
communications  and  dealings  with  their  fellow  men.  This 
confession  read  as  follows  : 

"Do  you  believe  there  is  one  triune  God,  the  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  these  three  in  one? 

20 


"Do  you  believe  that  in  the  Holy  Communion,  the  bread 
and  wine  become  the  real  flesh  and  blood  of  Christ  ? 

**Do  you  believe  that  the  Saints  who  have  died  are  medi- 
ators between  God  and  man  ? 

"Do  you  believe  that  the  crucifix,  annoited  with  holy  oil, 
and  the  bones  of  Saints,  are  proper  objects  of  worship  and 
reverence,  and  that  it  is  lawful  to  make  pilgrimages  to  Jerusa- 
lem to  see  the  sepulchre  of  Christ  and  of  the  Saints  ? 

"Do  you  believe  that  the  Priests  as  Christ's  representa- 
tives, can  do  sacrifice  for  us,  and  that  through  prayer,  they 
have  the  power  to  forgive  our  sins ;  also  that  they  can  pray 
for  the  benefit  and  deliverance  of  the  departed  spirits  (dead 
men's  souls)  ?"     Etc. 

The  Protestants  were  now  compelled  to  accept  this  con- 
fession of  faith,  or  to  reject  it  and  abide  by  whatever  might 
follow. 

The  acts  of  this  council  stirred  up  the  Missionaries  to  re- 
newed diligence,  and  they  began  to  visit  the  people  more  fre- 
quently than  ever. 

As  soon  as  Rev.  Mr.  Dwight  and  Dr.  Goodel  were  in- 
formed of  the  Council's  proceedings,  they  advised  the  brethren 
not  to  separate  themselves  from  the  Armenian  communion, 
saying  that,  if  they  did  so,  the  work  would  not  advance  so 
rapidly. 

This  was  also  advised  by  Dr.  Smith.  He  illustrated  this 
matter  to  them  by  saying  that  if  they  wished  to  burn  the  tim- 
ber from  off  a  mountain,  they  would  not  set  hre  to  it  at  but 
one,  but  at  many  places,  and  in  this  way  the  object  desired 
would  soon  be  accomplished. 

But  to  remain  in  the  church  they  were  obliged  to 
accept   the    confession  of    faith   drawn   up    by   the    Coun- 

21 


cil.  The  Missionaries  did  not  mean  they  should  accept  a 
thing  which  was  so  unscriptural  and  against  the  dictates  of 
their  consciences,  yet  in  giving  this  advise,  they  showed  great 
wisdom.  First,  they  did  not  take  upon  themselves  the  re- 
sponsibility of  causing  a  separation  in  the  church  and  nation  ; 
secondly,  they  gave  these  Protestant  brethren  an  opportunity 
to  learn  from  their  own  experience  that  it  was  impossible  for 
them  to  remain  in  the  church. 

Nevertheless  the  most  honored  and  influential  of  the 
older  brethren  placed  themselves  in  the  bosom  of  the  nation. 
This,  however,  many  who  were  younger  in  years  and  less 
experienced,  refused  to  do.  The  former  became  more  high- 
ly honored  and  respected  than  ever,  but  the  latter  were  more 
bitterly  persecuted.  Among  the  former  number  were  Hajy 
Melkon  Karajian  and  Garabed  Karagoesian.  So  well  had 
these  two  brethren  ingratiated  themselves  into  the  good 
graces  of  the  churchmen  that  they  were  appointed  the  super- 
intendents over  the  schools  in  the  church. 

Der*  Harutiun,  a  highly  honored  priest  who  was  also  a 
secret  disciple,  opened  a  female  school,  supported  by  the  mis- 
sionaries, a  fact,  however,  unknown  to  the  people.  To  this 
school  the  people  were  urged,  by  the  superintendents  (Kar- 
ajian and  Karagoesian),  to  send  their  daughters. 

Those  who  were  less  prudent  were  anathematized  and 
turned  out  from  their  houses  and  families,  and  even  from 
their  places  of  business.  They  were  caught  in  the  streets, 
beaten  with  heavy  clubs,  and  spit  upon.  The  people  were 
strictly  forbidden  to  have  any  dealings  with  them,  and  no 
one  was  allowed  to  give  them  a  morsel  of  bread  or  even 
a   cup   of  water,   under  penalty  of  like  treatment.      Thus 

*Der  signifies  Lord  or  Master,  and  is  usually  prefixed  to  the  name  of  a  priest. 

22 


they  were  outlawed  and  placed  at  the  mercy  of  the  public. 

Many  thus  driven  out  of  society,  not  being  permitted  to 
carry  on  their  legitimate  occupations,  were  obliged  to  sell 
and  sacrifice  their  properties,  so  that  they  might  obtain  means 
to  live  ;  many  ladies  were  necessitated  to  part  with  their 
jewelry  and  ornaments,  to  obtain  bread  for  themselves  and 
their  children. 

Some  of  these  persecuted  and  distressed  persons 
were  kindly  and  nobly  assisted  and  sheltered  by  the  Mission- 
aries and  Mr.  Beans.  These  kind  friends  with  loving  hearts 
and  willing  hands  gave  liberally  of  their  means  to  gladden 
the  hearts  of  these  poor  downtrodden  and  despised  Christ- 
ians. 


23 


CHAPTER  IV. 


Although  severely  persecuted  themselves,  they  also 
showed  great  dissatisfaction  against  those  brethren  who  did 
not  bravely  stand  up  for  the  truth.  They  began  to  chide  them 
and  to  prick  their  conscience,  and  insinuated  that  they  were 
seeking  worldly  honors  and  esteem,  saying  that  they  were 
like  unto  Demas,  of  whom  Paul  writes,  "For  Demas  has  for- 
saken me,  having  loved  the  present  world." 

By  this  time  Hohannes  Nergararian,  whose  son  Garabed 
had  been  exiled  to  the  Monastery  of  Armash,  had  also  secretly 
become  Protestant  at  heart.  Garabed  now  returned  home 
from  the  Monastery,  but  his  father  was  still  unwilling  to  receive 
him.  Although  his  conscience  smote  him,  and  he  was  halting 
between  two  opinions,  he  preferred  the  honor  which  was  be- 
stowed upon  him  by  the  heads  of  the  church. 

Nergararlan's  house  was  beautifully  located  upon  one  of 
the  principal  streets  of  the  city  just  opposite  of  which  was  a 
very  large  old  Turkish  cemetery. 

Garabed  being  refused  admittance  into  his  parental  home, 
made  it  his  custom  lor  a  time  to  go  into  this  cemetery,  where 
he  would  stand  upon  a  grave  stone  and  thus  address  his 
father : — 

"O  father,  why  have  you  cast  me  out  from  home  ?  Were 
your  requests  not  in  opposition  to  the  holy  scriptures  and  my 
conscience,  I  would  most  gladly  obey.     I  have  no  desire  to 

24 


disobey  your  behests,  but  Cluist  says,  'He  that  loveth  father 
or  mother  more  than  Me  is  not  worthy  of  Me.'  Remember 
that  for  the  truth's  sake  the  father  shall  be  against  the  child, 
'and  the  children  shall  rise  up  against  their  parents.'  'And 
ye  shall  be  hated  of  all  men  for  my  name's  sake.'  Father,  I 
pity  you.  You  are  not  doing  this  against  me,  but  against 
Christ  and  His  Holy  word.  Think  of  it,  father,  I  am  sure  you 
will  acknowledge  the  wrong  in  time  to  come.  You  will  then 
know  that  I  was  in  the  right.  I  pity  you,  father.  Don't  do 
it,  father.     Don't  do  it.     I  pity  you.     Think  of  your  soul." 

Delivering  his  odd  sermon  from  the  grave  stone  from 
time  to  time  and  being  dressed  in  a  monkish  garb,  he  at  first 
presented  quite  a  ludicrous  appearance  to  his  parents  and 
family,  but  the  truth  of  his  remarks  so  strangely  delivered, 
caused  restlessness  in  the  heart  of  his  father,  and  natural 
parental  love  melted  his  mother  to  tears.  She  therefore  urged 
iier  husband  to  receive  their  son  back  to  their  home  and 
hearts. 

Nergararian  and  others,  who  together  with  him  up  to  this 
time  had  believed  that  much  more  good  could  be  accom- 
plished by  remaining  in  the  church,  and  that  by  so  doing,  a 
reform  could  be  brought  about,  now  saw  from  their  past  ex- 
perience that  such  a  course  only  tended  to  lessen  their  chris- 
tian zeal,  and  that  it  was  only  hiding  their  light  under  a  bushel. 
They  therefore  held  a  council  in  which  it  was  decided  that 
Nergararian  should  go  and  confess  the  whole  miatter  to 
Aghavni  the  Bishop.  This  he  at  once  did,  telling  the  Bishop 
that  hitherto  he  had  been  practicing  hypocrisy  and  concealed 
the  truth  for  his  sake  and  the  honors  of  m.en.  He  told  him 
that  his  consciousness  of  right  and  justice  would  no  longer 
permit   him   to  accept   the  dogmas   of  the  church,  and   that 

25 


henceforth  he  would  receive   back  his  son    Garabed,  let   the 
consequence  be  what  it  might. 

When  the  Bishop  heard  this  very  unexpected  declaration, 
he  was  greatly  surprised  and  troubled.  He  exclaimed,  "O 
Nergararian,  should  you  do  this,  how  can  I  suppress  this 
growing  dissatisfaction  among  the  people  ?  You  are  regarded, 
by  them,  as  a  father,  hence  your  example  will  have  a  bad  ef- 
fect. Truth  is  like  the  sun  whose  light  cannot  be  hid ;  but 
now  the  days  are  evil.  The  people  are  ignorant,  and  while 
they  are  very  conscientious  and  strict  in  the  observances  of 
the  ceremonial  law  of  the  church,  they  think  it  no  great  mat- 
ter to  persecute  those  who  oppose  their  religion.  Read  the 
history  of  the  saints  and  learn  what  horrible  deeds  were 
wrought  in  their  day.  I  am  aged  and  can  not  endure  the 
persecutions  which  would  be  sure  to  follow,  were  I  to  oppose 
the  wishes  of  the  nation.  I  have  no  other  course  to  pursue 
than  to  obey  and  carry  out  the  mandates  of  the  Patriarch. 
Should  that  not  be  agreeable  to  your  wishes,  do  not  censure 
me.  Again  I  say,  wait,  do  not  act  too  rashly  ;  it  is  not  yet 
the  time  to  decide  so  grave  a  matter." 

Nergararian  ansv  eied,  "We  can  wait  lor  time,  but  time 
does  not  wait  for  us."     Saying  this,  he  departed. 

After  this  interview  with  Aghavni,  he  at  once  received  to 
his  home  his  son  and  all  the  remainder  ol  his  children  who 
had  been  driven  away.  One  Sunday  morning,  soon  after  this, 
his  wife  was  not  permitted  to  enter  the  church  because  they 
had  received  back  their  anathematized  son. 

Nergararian  now  opened  his  house  for  Sunday  services, 
and  all  who  had  espoused  the  Protestant  cause — both  those 
who  had  left  the  church,  and  those  who  still  remained  in  It — 
came  here  to  worship,  and  formed  one  congregation. 

26 


Der  Harutiun,  the  priest  of  whom  mention  has  already 
been  made,  after  performing  the  religious  ceremonies  in  his 
own  church,  would  secretly  come  and  take  part  in  these  ser- 
vices. The  missionaries  were  also  present  at  these  meetings 
from  time  to  time. 

From  day  to  day  persecutions  now  began  to  increase. 
Upon  the  Easter  morning  following  the  events  just  related,  an 
immensely  large  number  of  people  were  assembled  in  the 
church.  The  holy  altar  was  closed  from  the  view  of  the  audi- 
ence by  a  draw^n  curtain  as  a  sign  ol  mourning.  The  Bishop 
arose  and,  in  tears,  thus  addressed  the  people  : — 

"O  blessed  congregation,  I  have  indeed  sad  news  to  tell 
you  this  morning.  Acolyte  Nergararian  has  received  back 
into  his  house  his  anathematized  son  and  children.  Before 
he  was  called  Boyaji  Baba  (Father  Nergararian)  and  a  pillar 
of  church,  but  now  he  is  become  a  heretic  and  is  spiritually 
dead ;  therefore  to  him  and  his  house  be,  Anathema  Mara- 
natha,  and  let  those  who  hear  say,  ame7i.^'  The  congregation 
arose  and,  turning  their  faces  away  from  the  altar  and  the 
image  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  cried  out  with  a  mighty  voice, 
"Amen!"  After  the  Bishop  had  paused  a  moment  as  if  to 
give  his  words  a  greater  emphasis,  he  again  repeated  the  sol- 
emn curse  and  added,  "He  is  spiritually  dead.  As  we  can 
not  have  any  intercourse  with  the  dead,  so  neither  can  we 
have  any  communication  or  dealings  with  such  as  are  anathe- 
matized ;  therefore  whosoever  hath  communication,  dealing, 
or  business  with  him  or  his  household,  let  such  an  one  also 
be  Anathema  Maranatha,  and  let  all  who  hear  say,  Amen." 
Again  came  the  response,  "Amen  /" 

This  last  response  was  mingled  with  many  sighs  and 
tears — some  weeping  because  of  their  kinship,  others,  because 

27 


of  the  love  and  esteem  which  they  had  for  Nergararian  and 
his  family. 

The  people  now  became  wild  with  excitement.  A  gen- 
eral persecution  was  instituted  against  the  so  called  heretics. 
They  at  once  closed  Nergararian's  place  of  business.  His 
house  w^as  stoned,  the  w^indows  broken,  and  the  doors  be- 
daubed and  defaced.  The  Protestants  throughout  the  entire 
city  were  mobbed  and  assailed  ;  their  houses  were  stoned  ; 
their  windows  broken  and  smashed  into  pieces.  Even  the 
very  tiles  upon  the  house  tops  were  knocked  off  and  broken 
up.  Stones  were  hurled  at  their  houses  and  shops  like  show- 
ers of  hail. 

While  this  was  going  on,  twelve  ruffians  who  had  become 
somewhat  intoxicated  with  wine,  secretly  took  counsel  togeth- 
er in  a  wine  house  to  kill  Nergararian,  thinking  that  this  could 
easily  be  accomplished  without  detection  on  account  of  the 
tumult.  But  the  plot  was  overheard  by  an  Armenian  teacher 
whose  house  was  next  to  Nergararian's.  Going  to  Nergara- 
rian's window,  he  quietly  informed  him  of  his  danger,  and  ad- 
vised him  to  be  on  his  guard.  He  at  once  shut  himself  up  in 
his  house  where  he  and  his  family  quietly  remained  for  several 
days  until  the  excitement  was  allayed. 

A  brother,  named  Hajy  Sarkis,  during  the  excitement  of 
this  day,  was  driven  away  from  his  home  by  his  wife  and  his 
mother-in-law,  without  even  being  permitted  to  look  upon  his 
own  children.  He  now  endured  very  many  hardships,  being 
compelled  to  struggle,  as  best  he  could,  to  keep  himself  above 
want.  At  last  he  took  sick  in  a  Turkish  Han,  but  not  even  a 
Protestant  brother  was  permitted  to  administer  to  his  wants. 
He  was,  however,  frequently  visited  by  many  influential  Arme- 
nians who  tried  to  persuade  him  to  desist  from  the  step  which 

28 


he    had  t  ikeii,  but  his  only  answer  was,  "Who  shail  separate 
me  from  the  love  of  Christ  ?"     "Do  you  not  wish  to  see  your 
children  ?"  was  asked  of  him.     He  replied,  ''Oh,  that  I  would,  ' 
but  not  permitted  :  Oh,  could  I  but  see  my  Savior  !" 

A  priest  named  Thadeus,  who  was  his  confessor,  having 
a  special  regard  for  him,  went  to  the  Bishop  and  obtained  per- 
mission to  take  him  to  his  own  house,  giving  the  assurance  that 
he  would  be  able  to  win  him  back  to  the  church.  He  accord- 
ingly had  him  brought  to  his  home.  But  it  was  soon 
found  that  he  was  already  fast  approaching  the  hour  of  his 
dissolution.  According  to  the  teachings  of  the  Armenian 
church,  if  any  one  dies  without  receiving  absolution  for  sin 
and  the  holy  communion,  he  cannot  be  buried  In  an  Armenian 
cemetery.  For  this  reason  Thadeus  tried  to  persuade  him  to 
be  absolved  and  to  commune.  This  Hajy  Sarkis  refused,  in 
as  much  as  he  could  not  accept  the  doctrine  of  transubstantla- 
tlon  for  his  atonement  and  the  remission  of  sin.  Said  he,  "I 
hive  already  communed  with  Christ./     Soon  after  this  he  died. 

Thadeus  being  unwilling  to  acknowledge  his  inability  to 
reclaim  him,  concealed  the  fact  that  Hajy  Sarkis  had  died 
without  receiving  absolution  and  the  holy  comnumion.  He 
was  therefore  buried  in  the  cemetery. 

After  burial  services,  It  is  customary  to  sit  In  little  groups 
In  the  cemetery,  under  the  shade  trees,  to  eat  simit  (a  pretzel 
like  cake)  and  drink  rakee  (whiskey),  thus  driving  away  grief 
by  social  enjoyment.  Upon  this  occasion.  It  so  happened  that 
a  Protestant  brother  was  among  the  people,  though  this  fact 
was  not  observed  at  the  time.  Thadeus,  the  priest,  was  con- 
versing with  a  group  ot  persons  concerning  the  heretics.  A 
member  of  very  high  standing  accidentally  remarked  to 
Thadeus,  "You  priests  are  much  to  blame  for  this  heresy.'" 

29 


Thadeus  thinking  that  his  deception  had  In  some  way  been 
made  known  to  him,  angrily  replied  :  "You  must  not  censure 
me  too  harshly.  You  should  not  urge  me  to  the  whole  truth. 
I  did  all  in  my  power,  but  could  not  persuade  him  to  com- 
mune, the  accursed  man  !  He  told  me  he  had  already  com- 
muned with  Christ."  Just  at  this  very  interesting  point  of 
the  conversation,  Harutiun  Zaparar,  the  brother  reftrrtd  to, 
was  observed,  and  they  at  once  became  silent  upon  that  sub- 
ject, but  he  had  already  heard  the  very  important  declaration 
that  Hajy  Sarkis  had  not  communed,  but  died  a  Protestant. 

This  incident  gave  rise  to  many  grave  thoughts  in  the 
minds  of  these  brethren  ;  for  while  they  did  not  believe  the 
doctrine  of  transubstantiation,  but  that  the  holy  communion 
was  needful  as  an  act  commemorative  of  the  dying  love  of  the 
blessed  Savior,  yet  they  were  ignorant  as  to  its  administration. 

Another  matter  of  no  little  importance  to  tbem,  was  the 
privation  of  burial  in  the  Armenian  cemetsries,  or  even  in  any 
other,  since  they  could  not  do  so  without  being  communi- 
cants ;  hence  they  were  left  without  a  place  of  burial — one 
reason  why  they  so  patienUy  bore  their  persecutions. 


30 


CHAPTER  V. 


Concerning  the  communion,  there  was  much  discussion, 
and  the  brethren  began  to  make  inquiries  of  the  Missionaries 
as  to  the  manner  in  which  it  should  be  administered.  In 
answering  their  inquiries  the  Missionaries  were  very  careful, 
since  they  were  as  yet  mere  babes  in  spiritual  things,  and  had 
to  be  fed  with  "the  sincere  milk  of  the  word  ;"  for  these  con- 
verts had  been  accustomed  from  their  youth  to  see  this  sol- 
emn service  celebrated  with  much  ceremony,  since  the  Arme- 
nians perform  it  with  greater  pomp  than  even  that  of  the 
Catholics.  They  were  therefore  instructed  to  read  and  medi- 
tate upon  suitable  passages  from  the  New  Testament  Scrip- 
tures having  reference  to  the  subject,  especially  that  of  the 
Lord's  last  supper  with  His  disciples  just  before  His  cruci- 
fixion, so  that  they  might  better  understand  its  significance 
and  importance.  In  time,  after  they  had  become  conversant 
with  our  Savior's  command  and  teachings  at  His  last  supper, 
they  felt  a  very  great  desire  for  the  holy  communion,  being 
impressed  ^with  its  importance  as  a  means  of  grace,  and 
resolved  to  embrace  the  earliest  opportunity  to  celebrate 
this  Holy  ordinance  ;  hence,  when  the  next  Missionary,  Dr. 
Wood,  visited  them,  they  asked  him  to  administer  it  to  them. 

Pursuant  to  their  wishes,  Dr.  Wood  appointed  a  meeting 
in  the  house  of  Mr.  Beans.     Upon  this  o:casion  quite  a  num- 

31 


ber  of  persons — two  of  which  were  females — presented  them- 
selves as  candidates  for  this  Holy  service.  Upon  examination 
they  gave  bright  evidence  of  their  acceptance  with  Christ, 
and  received  their  first  communion.  A  little  girl  (an  infant) 
was  baptized  upon  this  occasion,  it  being  the  first  Protes- 
tant baptism  administered  in  Nicomedia. 

Here  then  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Beans,  through  Rev.  Dr. 
Wood,  was  established  the  second  organized  church  in  Tur- 
key, July  20,  1846,  the  first  organization  having  been  estab- 
lished at  Pera,  Constantinople,  about  two  weeks  previous. 
Soon  after  this  followed  organizations  at  Ada-Pazarand  Tra- 
buzan,  and  at  many  other  places. 


32 


CHAPTER  V!. 


With  the  estabhshment  of  these  organizations  came  per- 
secutions still  more  bitter  and  severe  than  before.  At  this 
time  a  demand  was  made  upon  the  Armenian  nation;  by  the 
Turkish  government,  for  a  certain  number  of  men  to  serve 
in  the  army.  •  When  such  demands  were  made,  the  prin- 
cipal men  of  the  nation  usually  met  in  council,  and  there 
secredy  determined  who  should  be  sent  to  serve  under  the 
Sultan.  Such  persons  were  generally  drafted  from  the  lower 
classes,  and  after  a  list  of  the  names  of  such  as  should 
go,  was  made  out,  it  was  at  once  handed  to  the  Kachya,  or 
tax  collector,  whose  duty  was  not  only  to  collect  the  national 
tribute  money,  but  also  to  attend  to  whatever  business  the 
nation  might  have  with  the  government.  The  nation,  whose 
hatred  knew  no  bounds  against  this  little  devoted  band  of 
Protestant  Christians,  saw  at  once  their  opportunity  of  wreak- 
ing their  vengeance  upon  it ;  they  therefore  made  up  their 
quota  of  men  from  these  brethren. 

As  an  eagle  pounces  upon  its  prey,  so  the  officials  seized 
Garabed  Nergararian  and  threw  him  into  the  common  prison. 
His  parents  and  friends  divining  their  purpose,  namely  that 
of  sending  him  away  to  serve  in  the  army,  used  every  means 
in  their  power  to  secure  his  release,  but  in  vain.  The  next 
morning  he  was  taken  from  the  prison,  and,  between  two  sol- 

33 


diers  with  drawn  swords,  he  was  hastened  to  the  vessel  await- 
ing his  transportation.  In  tears  he  besought  his  guards  to 
permit  him  once  more  to  look  upon  the  face  of  his  aged 
mother  and  to  give  her  his  final  farewell,  but  all  to  no  pur- 
pose. It  only  seemed  to  increase  their  cruelty,  and  they 
forced  him  along  more  rapidly  at  the  points  of  their  swords. 
His  mother  was  as  yet  awaiting  his  release,  but  when  the  sad 
news  of  his  misfortune  was  broken  to  her,  she  was  immedi- 
ately stricken  down  with  palsy  from  which  she  never  recovered. 

Soon  after  this,  two  other  brethren,  named  Baghdoser 
and  Stephen,  were  also  unexpectedly  conscripted  and  sent  to 
the  barracks  of  Sellemia. 

It  became  apparent  that  the  heads  of  the  ohurch  had  de- 
termined to  rid  the  city  of  the  Protestants  by  conscripting 
them  into  the  Turkish  soldiery — a  most  dreaded  calamity 
indeed.  Hence,  no  sooner  is  the  smoke  ol  the  government 
steamer  seen  heading  its  course  toward  the  city  than  they  flee 
into  the  mountains  or  Mr.  Bean's  factory,*  in  order  to  escape 
what  to  them  would  be  even  worse  than  penitentiary. 


*We.  read  in  Genesis  19  :  1,2  and  3, — "And  tliere  came  two  angels  to  Sodom 
at  even  ;  and  Lot  sat  in  the  g'atc  of  Sodom  ;  and  Lot,  secinpr  them  .  .  .  said, 
.  .  .  turn  in,  I  pray  3'oii,  into  3'our  servant's  house,  and  tarry  all  night.  And 
they  said,  NAY,  but  wc'will  abide'in  the  street  all  night.  And  he  pressed  them 
greatly  ;  and  they  turned  in  unto  him,  and  entered  into  his  house  :  &c." 

Now  it  ^vas  the  sole  purpose  of  the  angels  from  the  first,  to  lodge  with  Lot 
th  at  night,  but  according  to  the  custom  of  tlie  countrv  it  would  have  be«n  very 
rude  or  impolite  of  them  to  have  accepted  his  <irst  invitation,  hence  they  permit- 
ted him  to  press  his  invitation  before  they  could  accept  it  wilh  propriety.  '  Strange 
to  say.  this  custom  still  prevails  to-day  in  Asiatic  Turkey,  hence  an  invitation 
eren  to  a  meal  is  never  accepted  until  the  party  so  intited  has  been  repeatedly 
urged  to  do  so. 

Two  of  the  brethren  who  had  one  day  taken  refuge  at  the  factory  of  Mr. 
Beans  during  one  of  their  flights,  were,  by  that  gentleman,  kindly  invited  to  sit 
up  to  the  table  and  take  tea  with  the  f  unify.  As  a  matter  of  course,  according  to 
this  Oriental  custom,  tlicy  refused.  Hut  Mr,  Beans,  beinET  an  Englisliman  whose 
custom  was  entirely  different,  did  not  repeat  the  invitation,  and  they  were  per- 
mitted to  pass  through  the  night  upon  an  empt}'  stomach,  which  was  by  no  means 
a  very  pleasant  situation,  since  they  were  very  tired  and  hungry,  having  walked 
some  distance.  The  next  morning,  when  Mr.  Beans  asked  them  whether  they 
were  hungry  and  invited  them  to  breakfast,  they  eagerly  answcr--d,  "Yes! 
Yes!!"  During  the  twenty-four  hours  of  hunger  which  they  had  just  passed 
through,  they  learned  that 'it  was  not  always  safe  to  be  governed  by  a  mock 
modesty,  and  that  it  was  often  well  to  take  a  man  at  his  word. 

34 


It  was,  however,  impossible  for  them  to  remain  in  the 
mountains,  for  during  the  rigor  of  winter,  no  shelter  could 
there  be  found,  hence  some  other  means  of  escape  was 
necessary. 

In  the  mean  time  they  were  informed  that  some  unknown 
friend  had  bribed  the  Kachya,  who  being  eager  for  gain,  will- 
ingly permitted  those  to  escape,  whom  he  and  the  Turkish 
police  might  be  seeking.  When  these  officers  came  in  con- 
tact with  any  one  whose  name  was  upon  the  list  of  conscripts, 
he  would  at  once  be  notified  of  their  purpose  by  a  certain 
sign  previously  agreed  upon,  and  the  party  sought,  would 
immediately  seek  refuge  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Beans.  This 
they  could  very  easily  do,  since  they  were  unknown  to  the 
police. 

Nevertheless,  while  they  were  thus  permitted  to  escape, 
they  felt  many  compunctions  of  conscience  on  account  of  the 
three  brethren  who  had  already  been  sent  away  ;  for  they  now 
heard  many  sorrowful  things  concerning  their  condition.  In 
a  letter  which  had  recendy  been  received  from  one  of  these 
unfortunate  brethren,  were  written  these  words  : 

"O  brethren,  we  beseech  you,  pray  for  us.  Our  trials 
are  indeed  severe  ;  our  difficulties  and  perils  are  many.  Yet 
all  these  are  endurable  except  one  thing  needful.  Oh,  that 
we  could,  like  Nathaniel,  find  a  fig  tree  under  which  to  pray 
in  secret,  and  there  hold  sweet  communion  with  our  Lord  ! 
But  in  our  room,  we  cannot  enjoy  such  a  blessed  privilege, 
for  in  each  room  there  are  no  less  than  six  or  eight  Turkish 
soldiers  whose  blasphemy  and  corrupt  conversation  is  ever 
sounding  in  our  ears,  and  who,  when  they  see  a  Bible  in  our 
hands,  immediately  club  us  over  our  heads  with  the  stocks  of 
their  guns." 

35 


When  the  Missionaries  heard  this  letter  read,  their  hearts 
were  greatly  touched,  and  at  once  set  about  devising  some 
plan  to  secure  their  release.  After  these  brethren  had  been 
in  the  army  for  about  two  years,  the  Missionaries  succeeded 
in  their  purpose  by  hiring  substitutes  to  take  their  place ;  and 
thus  they  were  once  more  permitted  to  return  to  their  homes 
and  friends. 

The  native  brethren  seeing  the  wonderful  love  and  sym- 
pathy exhibited  towards  these  unfortunates  ones  by  the  Mis- 
sionaries, were  constrained  to  love  and  esteem  them  as  their 
fathers,  and  for  this  reason,  they  became  more  greatly  encour- 
aged than  ever,  and  grew  stronger  in  the  faith. 

To  show  how  the  kindness  of  these  good  Missionaries 
was  appreciated,  it  is  but  necessary  to  relate  one  little  inci- 
dent which  is  as  follows  :  A  poor  brother,  who  together  with 
his  wife,  was  cast  out  from  home,  seeing  such  a  great  display 
of  Christian  love  and  sympathy  manifested  by  the  Missiona- 
ries, sold  a  portion  of  his  cooking  utensils  so  that  he  could 
make  a  feast  for  them,  and  in  this  way  express  his  thankful- 
ness in  behalf  of  his  persecuted  brethren  ;  although  the  saeri- 
fice  which  this  poor  brother  made,  was  never  known  to  them. 


36 


CHAPTER  VI!. 


According  to  the  custom  of  the  Armenian  church,  after 
the  priest  has  sacrificed  the  emblems  of  the  holy  communion 
he  holds  the  chalice  up  before  the  congregation  saying,  as  he 
extends  it  toward  heaven,  "This  is  the  life,  the  hope,  and  the 
atonement  for  the  remission  of  sin."  This,  DerHarutiun  felt 
he  could  not  do,  it  being  in  direct  opposition  to  his  conscience  ; 
hence,  when  he  celebrated  this  service,  he  substituted  the 
word  that  (Armenian,  na)  ior  this  Csa)  in  presenting  the 
chalice  to  the  congregation,  meaning  that  not  the  emblems^ 
but  that  Christ  Himself  was  the  life,  the  hope^  arid  the  atoyie- 
vient  for  the  remission  of  sin. 

Upon  a  certain  Sunday,  after  celebrating  these  services, 
he  came  as  usual  to  the  m.eeting  of  the  brethren.  Some  one 
called  his  attention  to  the  fact  that  he  had  substituted  the 
word  that  for  this  in  his  morning  service,  when  he  held  up 
the  chalice  before  the  congregation,  remarking  at  the  same 
time,  "In  this  you  are  not  understood.  You  ought  openly 
manifest  the  truth  to  the  people."  He  replied,  *T  am  not 
situated  as  you  are.  They  have  invested  me  with  priestly 
orders.  Nevertheless  this  shall  be  my  last  celebration  a 
Mass.     Therefore  pray  for  me." 

37 


upon  the  next  Sabbath  morning,  the  gochnocs*  were 
beaten  longer  than  usual,  and  the  Zhamgotchest  were  sent 
forth  to  summon  the  people  to  church.  Soon  an  Immense 
audience  was  assembled  and  everything  indicated  that  some- 
thing unusual  was  to  take  place.  Der  Harutiunwas  present, 
and  upon  him  all  eyes  were  turned  with  eager  expectation, 
for  it  was  now  known  that  he  had  recanted  the  doctrines  of 
the  church.  The  Bishop  arose  and  pointing  to  Harutiun  thus 
addressed  the  congregation  : — 

*'0  blessed  people,  among  the  priests  this  man  was  in- 
deed very  prominent,  and  was  worthy  to  be  called  Der  Haru- 
tiun and  father.  But  he  has  become  a  heretic  and  is  there- 
fore Chik  Harutiun y  The  last  two  words  were  several 
times  repeated  so  as  to  give  them  a  still  greater  emphasis, 
meaning  that  Harutiun  was  now  spiritually  dead  and  had  be- 
come as  nothing  to  the  church. 

Harutiun  was  divested  of  his  sacerdotal  robes  from  his 
miter  to  his  slippers,  dragged  down  from  the  altar,  and  given 
to  the  people  to  do  with  him  as  they  pleased,  the  Bishop 
meanwhile  pronouncing  the  solemn  curse,  ''Let  him  be  anath- 
ema maranatha."  He  also  repeated  the  words,  "  Chik  Haru- 
tiun, chik  Harutiun^  To  these  last  words  Harutiun  an- 
swered, "Gah  harutiun!  gah  harutiun  IJ  (There  is  a  resur- 
rection, there  is  a  resurrection.)  Then  God  will  reward 
every  man  according  to  his  work." 

*At  the  time  spoken  of,  the  Mohammedans  did  not  allow  a  bell  to  be  used  iu 
their  country,  hence  other  means  were  employed  to  summon  the  people  to  church. 
For  this  purpose  the  gochnoc  was  used.  This  was  nothing-  more  or  less  than  a 
board  and  a  piece  of  steel,  each  oi  which  was  suspended  from  a  pole  and  beaten 
with  hammers. 

fA  person  whose  duty  it  was  to  go  out  upon  the  street  corners  to  call  the  peo- 
ple to  chiirch. 

JHarutiun  signifies  the  resurrection,  and  Chik,  nothing.  In  ancient  Arme- 
nian it  refers  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Sodducecs,  who  taught  that  there  was  no  res- 
urrection. The  Bishop  simply  meant  that  Harutiun  was  no  more  regarded  by 
them  as  a  Priest,  but  as  nothing  at  all.  Harutiun,  however,  referred  to  the  res- 
urrection— a  play  upon  the  words  comprising  his  own  name. 

38 


He  was  now  seized  by  the  people,  beaten,  kicked,  and 
spit  upon.  They  carried  him  to  the  Khootz — a  building  oc- 
cupied by  the  Bishops  and  vartabeds — and  employed  a  per- 
son who  was  a  most  bitter  enemy  to  the  Protestants,  to  shave 
off  his  beard.  In  doing  this,  he  cut  and  hacked  his  face  in  a 
most  shameful  manner,  so  that  the  blood  ran  down  his  cheeks. 
He  was  then  thrust  out  upon  the  street  and  ignominlously 
marched  in  front  of  the  people.  His  beard  was  tied  to  the 
top  of  a  pole  and  carried  in  front  of  the  procession  as  an  en 
sign.  As  they  marched  him  along,  they  beat  and  kicked 
him,  crying  all  the  while,  ''Chik  Harutiun,  Chik  Harutiun." 
The  priesdy  office  with  which  he  was  vested  with  so  much 
pomp  and  ceremony,  they  took  from  him  in  the  most  dis- 
graceful manner  possible. 

Having  been  thus  shamefully  maltreated,  he  was  set  at 
liberty.  He  remained  concealed  at  home  until  his  face  was 
healed  and  his  beard  grew  long  enough  to  hide  the  scars  of 
his  face,  for  among  the  Orientals  it  is  a  disgrace  to  have  the 
beard  shaven,  especially  that  of  a  priest. 

Being  thus  entirely  freed  from  the  nominal  church,  he 
wholly  consecrated  himself  to  the  work  so  earnestly  begun. 

Whenever  he  was  seen  upon  the  street,  he  was  mocked 
and  jeered  by  the  people.  Even  the  boys  hooted  and  shout- 
ed at  him,  and  in  this  way  his  presence  was  heralded  to  the 
city  whenever  he  was  seen  upon  the  public  thoroughfares. 

Indeed  the  rabble  and  the  low  class  of  people  made  it 
their  business  to  stone  the  Protestant  houses  every  evening 
for  a  time.  But  notwithstanding  these  bitter  persecutions, 
the  gospel  work  was  moving  on  more  rapidly  and  pleasantly 
than  ever. 

There  was  another  Priest  named  Der  Vertanes  who  was 
39 


very  intelligent,  and  highly  honored  by  the  people.  He  too, 
like  Harutiun,  had  become  Protestant  at  heart,  and  entertain- 
ed like  views.  Of  this,  he  also  was  suspected.  Seeing  the 
treatment  which  Harutiun  received  at  their  hands,  and  being 
apprised  of  their  suspicions,  he  fled  to  Constantinople  and 
rented  a  house  in  Pera.  The  Patriarch  of  the  city  several 
times  sent  his  Kachya  to  summon  Vertanes  into  his  presence, 
but  Vertanes  surmising  his  purpose,  always  found  an  excuse 
to  prevent  his  accompanying  the  Kachya  thither.  The  Pa- 
triarch again  sent  for  him  and  demanded  his  immediate  pres- 
ence. Seeing  the  Patriarch's  messengers  at  the  door,  Ver- 
tanes, having  a  razor  at  hand  for  the  purpose,  went  to  the 
window,  and  leaning  out  of  it,  he  took  his  razor  and  cut  off  a 
portion  of  his  beard  saying  as  he- did  so,  *T  know  what  the 
Patriarch  wishes  ;  here,  tal«2  this  to  him."  Seeing  that  their 
designs  v\Tre  frustrated  by  Vertanes'  shrewdness,  they  left, 
and  he  was  never  troubled  again.  But  he  was  anathematized 
as  a  devil  and  destroyer  of  the  church. 


40 


CHAPTER  YII 


In  the  meantime  the  Armenian  leaders  brought  an  ac- 
cusation against  H.  Nergararian  before  the  Turkish  govern- 
ment, charging  him  with  trying  to  urge  the  people  to  rebel- 
lion with  the  intent  of  becoming  subjects  to  the  English  rule. 
The  Kachya  together  with  the  police,  was  sent  to  arrest  him 
and  bring  him  before  the  Turkish  Court,  where  they  thought 
to  have  him  condemned  and  sent  away  into  exile. 

No  sooner  had  he  learned  that  the  officers  were  at  his 
door  than  he  hastily  cailed  his  family  around  him  and  prayed 
for  God's  protection  over  all  his  house.  Commending  them 
to  the  care  of  a  kind  and  overruling  Providence,  he  went  with 
them  to  the  court  house,  where  were  assembled  his  accusers, 
the  Turkish  CouDcil:  and  the  Bishop  and  Priests  of  the  church. 

But  God  in  His  infinite  wisdom  ever  watches  over  those 
who  strive  to  love  and  serve  Him,  and  in  Whom  they  put 
their  sole  trust  and  confidence. 

As  soon  as  he  entered  the  Court,  the  Pasha  seeing  him, 
commanded  that  a  chair  be  brought  for  him,  for  he  was  the 
Pasha's  physician,  and  by  him  he  was  very  highly  respected 
not  only  on  account  of  his  eminence  as  a  physician,  but  also 
for  his  noble  character.  Nergararian  declining  the  proffered 
chair,  said,  "Most  gracious  Effendim,  I  am  not  worthy  to  be 
seated  in  the  presence  of  this  august  body  (pointing  to  the 

41 


Armenian  representatives),  but  I  pray  you,  that  your  majesty 
may  be  kind  enough  to  inform  me  as  to  the  purpose  of  my 
being  summoned  before  this  Court."  The  Pasha  knowing 
full  well  that  Nergararian  would  never  be  guilty  of  such  an 
accusation,  angrily  addressing  himself  to  those  representatives 
said,  "Is  this  the  man,  this  aged  father,  whom  you  accuse  be- 
fore me?"  His  accusers  remaining  silent,  the  Pasha  again 
repeated  the  question.  Still  receiving  no  answer,  he  turned 
to  Nergararian  and  asked,  "Is  it  true  that  you  have  been  stir- 
ring up  many  of  the  people  to  rebellion  for  the  purpose  of 
becoming  English  subjects?"  "Pasha,.  Effendim,"  answered 
Nergararian,  "I  will  account  myself  happy  indeed,  should 
you  permit  me  an  opportunity  to  give  a  simple  explanation 
of  this  matter."  The  Pasha  commanded  him  to  speak  on. 
He  then  presented  his  defense  in  these  words  :  "Pasha  Ef- 
fendim, I  am  quite  an  aged  man  as  you  see,  and  have  spent 
the  greater  part  of  my  life  in  the  chufch,  adhering  strictly  to 
all  its  rites  and  ceremonies  and  keeping  all  the  fasts  and 
feasts.  For  a  number  of  years  I  held  the  office  of  an  acolyte. 
During  the  time  that  I  served  the  church  in  this  capacity,  did 
I  but  take  the  Bible  in  my  hand,  the  Priest  would  at  once 
say  'Put  it  down,  put  it  down.  It  is  unlawful  for  a  layman  to 
read  this  holy  book ;  for  such  a  sacred  thing,  you  are  too  un- 
worthy ;  only  Priest  and  collegians  are  permitted  to  read  it.' 
Hence  I  was  very  ignorant  as  to  its  teachings.;  but  blessed 
be  God,  nations  from  a  distant  land,  of  a  different  speech  and 
different  religion,  were  stirred  up  to  send  us  the  gospel  in  its 
simplicity.  And  may  God  add  many  thousand  days  to  the 
Sultan's  life  that  he  opened  the  doors  of  his  country  to  His 
Holy  Word.  Effendim,  when  I  read  in  this  Holy  book,  the 
commandment  which  says,  'Thou  shalt  not  make  unto  thee 

42 


any  graven  image,  or  likeness  or  anything,  .  .  .  Thou 
shalt  not  bow  down  thyself  to  them,  nor  serve  them  ;  for  I 
the  Lord  thy  God  am  a  jealous  God.'  Effendim,  these  words 
caused  me  great  trouble  and  anxiety  of  mind  ;  for  I  have  not 
only  bowed  myself  down  before  images  and  pictures,*  and 
burnt  wax  candles  and  offered  incense  before  them,  but  in 
tears  I  even  kissed  those  pictures  and  implored  their  aid.  In 
so  doing,  have  I  not  grieviously  sinned  In  the  sight  of  God  ? 
EfTendim,  I  leave  my  cause  to  your  judgment.  Whom  shall 
I  obey,  God  or  man  ?  Which  should  I  most  fear,  God's  just 
judgment,  or  man's  threatenings  ?" 

When  the  Pasha  heard  these  v/ords,  he  burned  with  in- 
dignation, and  turning  to  the  Armenian  prelates  he  said,  *'Is 
this  then  the  grave  offense  of  this  aged  man  ?  Your  report 
is  of  a  very  different  character — a  mere  pretence  ;  Ti  false  ac- 
cusation. Away  yoMpidparesilar  (idolaters) !  Begone  from 
my  sight !  Henceforth,  if  I  hear  any  more  such  false  accusa- 
tions or  tumult,  it  shall  not  be  well  with  you.  You  shall 
abide  the  consequences," 

Nergararian's  accusers  being  only  too  glad  to  drop  the 
matter,  immediately  left  the  court  room,  and  from  this 
time  on,  the  Bishop  never  ventured  even  to  anathematize  an- 
other member.  He  advised  all  henceforth  to  let  these  people 
alone.  But  by  his  former  acts  of  intolerance,  his  influence 
over  the  people  in  a  great  degree  was  lost,  and  they  were  no 
more  willing  to  regard  his  admonitions,  for  his  previous  ex- 
ample had  been  a  bad  one. 

*AI1  kinds  of  images  and  pictures  arc  so  obnoxious  and  hateful  to  Mohamme- 
dans that  even  a  pictured  cigarette  paper  or  match  box  are  destroyed  bj- them. and 
to  them  a  handkerchief  witii  a  picture  upon  it,  cannot  be  sold.  They  look  upon 
the  so-called  Christians  as  idolators.  In  this  particular,  the  Turks  have  much 
greater  respect  for  the  Protestants,  since  they  also  oppose  the  vi'orship  of  images; 
hence  they  aided  in  protecting  the  Protestants  against  the  persecutions  of  the 
nominal  cnristians. 

43 


The  Pasha  kindly  addressing  himself  to  Nergararian  ad- 
vised him  to  return  quietly  and  peacefully  to  his  home.  Be- 
fore leaving  the  court,  he  returned  many  sincere  thanks  to  the 
Pasha  for  what  had  been  done  for  him,  and  requested  that  he 
might  be  permitted  to  hold  a  special  meeting  in  his  house  the 
following  evening,  for  the  purpose  of  asking  God's  blessings 
and  protaction  upon  the  Sultan's  life  and  the  lives  of  all  his 
officers.     This  request  the  Pasha  most  cheerfully  granted. 

Nergararian  at  once  notified  the  brethren  of  his  purpose. 
In  God's  providence  it  so  happened  that  Absalom,  the  first 
ordained  native  pastor,  at  Pera,  Constantinople,  came  to  Nico- 
media  that  day  and  preached  at  Nergararian's  house  that 
evening.  During  the  services  a  brother  came  into  the  house, 
went  to  Nergararian,  and  whispered  something  in  his  ear. 
He  at  once  arose  and  went  out,  and,  to  his  utter  astonishment, 
he  saw  that  his  house  was  surrounded  by  Turkish  guards 
who  were  sent  there  by  order  of  the  Pasha,  for  the  purpose  of 
protecting  them  from  any  disturbance  on  the  part  of  the  peo- 
ple. He  returned  many  thanks  to  the  captain  of  the  guards. 
The  captain  kindly  told  him  that  they  were  sent  by  order  of 
the  Pasha. 

When  this  fact  was  made  known  to  Rev.  Absalom,  he 
immediately  changed  his  discourse  from  the  Armenian  to  the 
Turkish  language  and  in  it  conducted  the  service  to  the  end. 
He  spoke  loud  and  distinctly,  so  that  he  could  be  understood 
by  the  guards  on  the  outside,  and  especially  invoked  the 
blessings  of  God  upon  the  Sultan,  the  Pasha,  and  all  their 
officers.  The  guard  hearing  this,  told  it  to  the  Pasha  who 
was  greatly  pleased,  and  after  this  he  always  showed  a  readi- 
ness to  grant  whatever  might  be  asked  of  him. 


44 


CHAPTER  IX. 


A  short  time  after  the  event  related  above,  services  were 
being  held  preparatory  to  a  communion  season,  at  which  time 
several  more  persons  were  examined  and  received  into  mem- 
bership. During  these  services  news  was  received  that  a 
brother  nam.ed  Azaryan  Garabed  was  dying  and  wished  some 
of  the  brethren  to  come  and  pray  with  him.  Rev.  Absalom 
in  company  with  several  others  went  at  once  to  encourage 
him  and  to  commend  him  to  God.  After  they  had  prayed 
with  him,  he  said,  "To-morrow  I  will  spend  my  first  Sabbath 
in  the  heavenly  kingdom,  but  my  body  will  cause  you  trouble, 
since  you  have  no  place  of  burial  in  which  to  lay  it."  ''Give 
yourself  no  anxiety  of  mind  about  this,"  said  they,  "God  v/ill 
provide  a  place  where  your  body  can  rest  in  peace."  Asking 
the  blessings  of  God  upon  him,  they  bid  him  a  last  farewell 
and  departed. 

During  the  evening  services  the  house  was  crowded.  A 
giant  like  man  named  Matig,*  who  was  a  leader  among  the 

*This  man  v.'as  among-  the  rabble  at  the  time  ^vhen  the  first  Council  was  held 
And  in  -which  were  presented  the  a,rticles  of  faith  previously  spoken  of.  Matiof, 
it  seems,  had  stationed  himself  just  at  the  entrance  of  the  room  in  which  this 
coiincil  was  held,  having  in  his  hand  a  lar^e  club  for  the  purpose  ot  beating-  those 
■who  might  refuse  to  sign  this  paper.  A  certain  brother  named  Saprich  Meger- 
ditch, seeing  Matig  with  his  club,  was,  for  this  reason,  induced  to  sign  the  articles 
of  faith.  Afterward,  feeling  a  great  distress  of  conscience  about  the  matter,  he 
went  to  the  Bishop  and  demanded  that  his  name  be  erased  from  the  paper.  When 
he  was  asked  whj'  he  signed  it,  he  replied.  "I  was  afraid  of  Matig's  club," 

45 


city  rous^hs,  came  with  a  number  of  his  companions,  to  the 
house,  for  the  purpose  of  creating  a  disturbance.  It  was  so 
arranged  that  he  him.self  should  go  up  into  the  room  where 
the  meeting  was  in  progress  while  they  remained  outside. 
At  a  certain  signal  previously  agreed  upon,  they  were  to  en- 
ter, rush  upon  the  people,  cause  a  general  confusion  and  up- 
roar, and  then  escape.  It  being  the  communion  service,  the 
minister  with  tears  coursing  down  his  cheeks,  was  preaching 
most  earnestly  upon  the  gufierings  and  crucifixion  of  our 
Savior,  Matig  began  to  feel  the  power  of  his  words  and  from 
him  escaped  many  long  and  deep  sighs.  He  now  had  not 
only  forgotten  his  purpose,  but  also  his  companions  who  by 
this  time  were  growing  impatient,  and  began  to  throw  small 
pebbles  againt  the  windows  and  cry  "Matig,  Matig."  Hear- 
ing this  he  angrily  ran  down  stairs  and  told  them  that  he 
would  at  once  stab  to  death  with  his  own  knife,  the  first  one 
who  dared  make  any  disturbance  whatever.  It  is  needless  to 
say  there  was  no  further  trouble  upon  this  occasion.  Matig 
came  back  and  manifested  a  great  interest  in  the  services. 

Thus  by  sofieaing  the  lion  heart  of  this  man,  God  frus- 
trated their  evil  designs  and  permitted  His  people  to  hold 
their  worship  in  peace. 


46 


CHAPTER  X. 


After  the  service  was  ended,  the  news  came  that  the  sick 
brother  was  dead. 

The  heart  of  his  mother  was  not  only  made  heavy  and 
sad  on  account  of  the  loss  of  her  dear  son,  but  she  was  much 
troubled  because  she  kne\v  not  where  to  lay  his  body  that  it 
might  rest  in  peace.  Some  of  the  brethren  at  once  went  to 
comfort  her,  and  to  make  arrangement  for  his  burial.  They 
stricdy  cautioned  her  not  to  make  his  death  knowm  to  the  pub- 
lic until  they  should  perfect  the  arrangements  for  his  funeral. 
A  man  who  owned  a  vineyard  just  opposite  the  Ar- 
menian Cemetery,  was  prevailed  upon  to  sell  it  for  a  like  use^ 
but  before  it  could  be  used  as  a  cemetery,  it  was  necessary  to 
obtain  a  permit  from  the  go\ernment. 

These  brethren  remained  in  council  all  that  night  trying 
to  devise  soue  plan  l^y  which  they  might  accomplish  their 
design.  They  fmally  concluded  to  lay  the  matter  before  the 
Pasha. 

The  next  day   Hohannes  Nergararian,  taking  with  him 
Hajy  Melkon  and  several  others,  went  to  the  Pasha  and  pre- 
senting to  him  the  object  of  tlieir  errand  thus  addressed  him 
"Effendim,  be  it  known  unto  you  that  not  long  ago,  one  of  our 

47 


number"^  was  called  from  our  midst  by  death,  and  it  was  with 
much  difficulty  that  we  could  obtain  a  place  to  lay  him  away 
to  rest.  O  Effendim,  we  beseech  you  to  grant  us  a  permit  to 
buy  a  piece  of  ground  upon  which  to  bury  our  dead.  And 
should  you  be  pleased  to  grant  this  our  request,  we  vouchsafe 
great  honor  and  glory  to  you,  and  to  us  it  will  indeed  be  an  ex- 
ceedingly great  favor."  The  Pasha  then  inquired  as  to  wheth- 
er they  had  in  view  any  suitable  place  which  they  might  be 
able  to  secure.  Pointing  to  Kooyumjy  Harutiun,  Nergararian 
answered,  "This  man  is  willing  to  sell  us  his  vineyard  for  that 
purpose,  if  permitted."  "Is  it  so?"  inquired  the  Pasha. 
Harutiun  rephed,  "If  your  Gracious  Highness  so  will." 

The  Pasha  then  granted  them  the  desired  permit  stamp- 
ed with  his  own  seal.  To  the  Pasha  they  returned  many 
thanks  for  his  kind  and  courteous  considerations,  and  made 
known  to  him  the  factthat  one  of  their  number  was  now  lying 
a  corpse  at  his  home.  When  the  Pasha  learned  this,  he  im- 
mediately commanded  the  captain  of  the  guards  to  take  a 
number  of  men  and  go  with  them  so  that  they  might  be  pro- 
tected from  molestation  during  the  funeral  services. 

By  this  time  it  becam.e  known  that  a  Protestant  funeral 
was  to  take  place.  Soon  the  streets  were  filled  with  people. 
Many  stood  in  the  doorways,  windows,  and  other  recesses,  to 
see  the  funeral  cortege. 

The  body  was  brought  out  of  the  house  and  the  guards 
which  the  Pasha  had  sent,  took  their  place  in  front  of  the  pro- 

*The  case  referred  to  was  that  of  a  little  son  of  an  anathematized  brother 
whose  name  was  Kemahl.  This  little  boy  died  some  lime  previous  to  this  event. 
The  father  went  to  the  Priests  to  obtain  tneir  permission  to  bury  his  little  child  in 
the  Armenian  cemetery,  but  they  refused  to  grant  it.  Two  of  the  brethren  then 
took  the  child's  body  and  quietly  attempted  to  bury  it  in  the  cemetery,  but  tailed 
in  their  purpose.  They  then  made  an  eft'ort  to  burv  it  in  a  private  garden,  but 
even  this  was  not  allowed.  Thus  they  were  driven  from  place  to  place  until  final- 
ly they  were  compelled  to  bury  it  secretly  near  the  bank  of  a  river.  They  did  not 
even  dare  to  mark  his  little  erave  from  fear  of  discovery. 

48 


cession,  but  the  way  was  closed  up  by  a  clamorous  and  excited 
mob  who  began  to  hoot  and  yell  at  the  procession,  making  a 
hideous  uproar  with  their  oaths  and  indecent  language.  Not- 
withstanding the  presence  of  the  guards  who  with  their 
scourges,  were  trying  to  make  way  to  pass  through  the  throng, 
,^hey  threw  stones  at  the  Protestants  and  even  spit  upon  them. 
While  the  guards  were  trying  to  force  the  people  aside,  an 
Armenian  woman  losing  her  presence  of  mind  in  the  excite- 
ment of  the  moment,  said,  "Let  us  alone,  it  is  needful  that  we 
chastise  these  people,  for  they  are  worse  than  Mohammedans." 
Hearing  this  the  guards  became  very  angry  and  forced  their 
way  through  the  people  by  beating  and  kicking  them  until 
the  place  of  burial  was  reached. 

The  Rev.  Absalom  preached  the  funeral  sermon  in  the 
cemetery,  in  the  Turkish  language,  so  that  it  could  be  under- 
stood by  the  guards. 

When  the  guards  returned  to  their  quarters,  they  report- 
ed the  purport  of  the  sermon  to  the  Pasha  ;  and  also  related 
to  him  every  thing  concerning  the  disgraceful  conduct  of  the 
people. 

Being  greatly  displeased  at  these  acts  of  mob  violence,  he 
sent  the  police  to  summon  the  Bishop  into  his  presence. 
When  the  Bishop  appeared  before  him,  he  angrily  arose  and 
pointing  to  his  seat,  thus  addressed  this  dignitary  by  saying, 
"Come,  and  occupy  my  place,  since  I  am  supposed  to  me  no 
mc  re  worthy  to  rule  this  people,"  thus  uttering  a  most  power- 
ful rebuke.  The  Bishop  fell  upon  his  knees  and  in  tears 
promised  the  Pasha  that  he  would  henceforth  do  all  in  his 
power  to  subdue  the  people  from  further  violence  and  perse- 
cution. After  this  the  Bishop  at  every  Sunday  ser\^ice  in- 
structed his  people  to  be  peaceful  and  quiet. 

49 


Ill  the  evening  of  the  same  day  upon  which  the  funeral  of 
Azaryan  took  place,  Rev.  Absalom  preached  in  the  house  of 
Nergararian,  taking  for  his  text  2nd  Cor.  6 :  17,  i8 :  "Where- 
fore come  out  from  among  them,  and  be  ye  separate,  saith  the 
Lord,  and  touch  not  the  unclean  thing ;  and  I  will  receive  you, 
And  w^ill  be  a  father  unto  you,  and  ye  shall  be  my  sons  and 
daughters,  saith  the  Lord  Almighty."  There  being  a  candi- 
date for  baptism,  he  also  discoursed  from  Rom.  6 :  4.  After 
services  several  brethren  remained  with  him  during  the  night, 
for  it  was  thought  that  it  was  not  safe  for  him  to  remain  alone, 
his  nerves  having  been  more  or  less  effected  from  the  trouble 
and  excitement  of  the  day.  He  remarked  to  Hajy  Melkon 
that  he  was  afraid  this  day  would  cause  him  his  life. 

Early  the  next  morning,  these  brethren  accompanied  him 
to  the  w^harf  where  he  took  a  boat  for  Constantinople.  Soon 
afterward  he  was  taken  very  ill.  From  this  attack  he  never 
rallied.  It  was  thought  by  some*  that  his  death  was  caused 
by  the  terrible  experience  of  that  day  of  excitement  and  fear 
when  Azaryan  was  buried. 

Thus  passed  away  the  first  native  pastor  of  the  first  or- 
ganized church  in  Turkey,  from  his  early  labors,  to  reap  his 
reward  in  the  haven  of  eternal  rest.  His  loss  was  greatly 
felt  by  his  sorrowing  brethren,  for  he  was  a  most  earnest 
and  successful  laborer  in  this  new  open  field,  where  he  was 
so  much  needed. 


*He  had  a  like  experience  in  Constantinople  and  it  was   thoug-lit  that  eaoli  of 
these  events  had  something  to  do  with  his  illness. 


50 


CHAPTER  Xi. 


Previous  to  this  time,  an  Armenian  young  man  was  be- 
headed in  Constantinople  by  the  Turkish  authorities  on  ac- 
count of  changing  his  rehgion.  His  head  was  placed  under 
him,  instead  of  under  the  arm  pits,  according  to  an  es- 
tablished custom,  as  an  act  of  contempt,  or  as  an  insult  to 
Christianity;  and  he  was  thus  exposed  to  the  public  gaze  for 
several  days.  The  Turks  treated  the  matter  very  lightly  by 
calling  him  a  Giaour  (Infidel),  and  said,  "What  signifies 
that  ?"  "He  is  nothing  at  all."  This  event  very  m.uch  aroused 
the  leelings  of  the  foreign  Christian  ambassadors  who,  through 
the  English  ambassador,*  demanded  of  the  Turkish  govern- 
ment, that  religious  liberty  be  at  once  accorded  to  all  the  peo- 
ple, and  threatened  it  with  grave  consequences  should  this 
demand  not  be  granted. 

Upon  tlie  reception  of  this  demand.  Sultan  Abdoul  Mejid 
at  once  issued  a  firman  which  was  written  in  high  Turkish. 
This  language,  for  the  most  part,  is  made  up  of  Arabic  and 
'ersian  words  and  is  not  well  understood  by  the  common 
people.  It  was,  however,  interpreted  to  mean  that  his  govern- 
ment was  a  temporal  one ;  ^hat  it  had  no  power  over  the  souls 
of  men;  that  this  power  belonged  to  God   alone;  and  that 


*During-  this  period,  tlie  Eng-lish  ambassador,  Sir  Strafford  Caninjr,  was  a 
fjrcat  instrument  in  securing-  rclijjjious  liberty  in  Turkey  for  native  Christian  sub- 
jects.    With  his  iniluence  he  also  greatly  assisted  the  mission  work. 

51 


henceforth  each  Christian  subject  of  his  domain  should  have 
the  right  to  worship  according  to  the  dictates  of  his  own  con- 
science ,  and  further,  that  no  one  should  be  permitted  to  call 
another  a  Giaour. 

This  firman  was  caused  to  be  read  in  the  navy  yard  at 
Nicomedia,  and  in  every  public  place  throughout  the  Sultan's 
dominion  ;  namely,  to  Turks,  Jews,  Greeks,  Armenians  and 
all  other  nations  and  classes  of  people. 

To  these  Protestant  Christians,  this  was  a  matter  for  great 
rejoicing,  and  they  held  evening  meetings  for  prayer  and 
thanksgiving.  In  these  meetings,  many  prayers  were  offered 
up  in  behalf  of  the  Sultan  and  his  officers. 

These  brethren  believed  that  this  v/as  a  direct  providence 
of  God,  and  that  now  was  their  opportunity  to  become  a  dis- 
tinct and  separate  church  from  that  of  the  Armenian.  But 
having  been  previously  advised  that  such  an  act  would  not  be 
advantageous  to  the  work,  and  believing  that  this  work  should 
also  be  for  the  good  of  the  nation,  they,  after  some  delibera- 
tions, decided  to  send  a  petition  together  with  their  confession 
of  faith  to  the  Patriarch,  stating  that,  if  they  could  remain  with 
them  as  one  people  without  being  compelled  to  sacrifice  their 
belief  and  faith,  they  would  rather  do  so,  in  as  much  as  the 
thought  of  separation  caused  them  much  grief  and  pain. 

On  the  22nd  of  Jan.,  1846,  they  sent  to  the  Patriarch  a  let- 
ter with  the  above  statements,  together  with  their  confession  of 
faith  which  reads  as  follows  : — 

''Most  August  Sir  : 

In  these  days  of  persecution,  deprivation, 
slander,  and  injury,  we  are  constrained  to  send  this  our  peti- 
tion to  your  Highness,  for  unto  whom  else  can  we  go  ? 
Should  we  not  appeal  to  our  beloved  nation,  which  supposes 

52 


us  to  be  Its  enemies,  separates  us  from  the  church  and  your 
I  authority,  and  deprh'es  us  the  privilege  of  membership,  and 
because  we  are  at  present  regarded  as  infidels  and  heretics,  It 
is  thought  right  and  just  to  curse  and  anathematize  us  ?  We 
therefore  feel  ourselves  constrained  to  present  this  our  ortho- 
dox confession  to  you  for  your  worthy  consideration. 

'*We  confess  and  believe  in  the  Holy  Trinity,  one  Triune 
God,  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost ;  one  Dominion,  one 
Will,  one  Sovereign. 

"We  believe  In  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  perfect  God  and 
man,  and  we  confess  Him  as  being  the  only  Savior  of  the 
world,  the  true  High  Priest,  mediator.  Intercessor,  and  the 
true  Head  of  the  church. 

"We  believe  that  He  will  come  to  judge  the  living  and 
the  dead,  to  reward  them  justly,  giving  everlasting  life  to  the 
righteous,  and  never  ending  punishment  to  the  vricked. 

"We  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  in  a  perfect  God, 
the  source  of  truth  spoken  of  In  the  law  of  Moses,  by  the  pro- 
phets and  apostles  ;  that  He  as  the  teacher  and  comforter  of 
Christian  believers. 

"We  believe  the  Holy  Bible,  both  the  Old  and  the  New 
Testament  Scriptures,  which  are  the  canons  of  the  church,  in 
v/hich  is  contained  all  doctrines  and  sacrament  acceptable  to 
us  with  all  our  hearts,  and  herein  do  we  try  to  exercise  our- 
selves to  a  'conscience  void  of  offense  to  God  and  Man." 
Acts  24  :  16. 

"We  believe  that  it  is  the  duty  of  ourselves  and  of  all 
Christians,  to  baptize  in  the  name  of  the  Holy  Trinity — the 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost ;  also  that  it  is  our  duty  to  com- 
memorate the  sufferings  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  receiv- 
ing the  Holy  Sacrament  according  to  the  manner  in  which 

53 


Christ  instituted  it.  Should  you  desire  to'  further  examine 
our  faith,  we  confess  it  to  be  according  to  the  Gospel  which 
our  church  receives  as  the  true  word. 

"We  also  accept  the  Apostolic  Creed  as  being  in  harmony 
with  the  Gospel,  thus  declaring  that  our  faith  accords  with  the 
orthodox  confession  of  the  universal  church.  Therefore,'we  i 
confess  openly  that  our  faith  is  the  teaching  of  the  Gospel  as 
it  ought  to  be  and  truly  is.  How  then  can  we  comply  with 
those  demands  which  are  against  the  teachings  of  the  Holy 
Word,  and  which  are  entirely  forbidden  by  a  curse. 

"Because  we  would  not  receive  those  things  which  are  not 
approved  of  in  the  Bible,  we  are  regarded  as  being  obstinate, 
and  as  apostate,  and  as  enemies  of  the  nation,  and  destroyers 
of  the  church ;  although  we  were  never  of  this  mind,  but  we 
love  our  nation  as  Paul  says,  'For  I  could  wish  that  myself 
were  accursed  from  Christ  for  my  brethren,  my  kinsmen  ac-  - 
cording  to  the  flesh.' 

"To  be  called  a   Haig  (Armenian),  v/e   esteem  a   great 
honor,  and  never  assumed  any  other  name,  although  we   ar 
generally  called   Protestants,  we  again  confess   that  we   ar 
Haigs  by  nation,  and  by  faith  Christians,  and  obedient  subject 
to  the  Ottoman  empire. 

"Nevertheless,  if  we  have  erred  in  religious  and  civil  mat- 
ters— for  we  are  not  infallible — we  are  ready  to  be  corrected, 
if  you  are  willing  to  shovv^  wherein  we  have  erred.  But  con- 
viction of  human  nature  must  be  done  by  the  proof  of  truth, 
and  not  by  force  and  the  fear  of  man.  We  can  not  operate 
against  conscience ;  therefore  we  beseech  that  this  our  declara- 
tion will  be  acceptable  in  the  sight  of  your  Majesty,  and  that 
you  willhave  pity  upon  us  and  save  us  from  these  troubles,! 

54 


and  we  shall  c\'ci\  be  the  servants  and  well-wishei's  of  your 
Holiness." 

This  confession  and  petition  was  refused  by  the  Patriarch 
who  said,  "The  cannons  of  the  church  are  inimutable,  hence 
you  must  recei\e  the  confession  of  the  church  or  we  can  not 
receive  you." 

Being  thus  cut  off  from  the  mother  church,  they  thought 
with  Paul,  "Be  ye  not  unequally  yoked  together  with  unbe- 
lievers." "And  what  agreement  hath  the  temple  of  God  with 
idols," — "wherefore,"  they  thought,  "come  out  from  among 
them  and  be  ye  separate."  They  now  appealed  to  the  Sultan 
for  his  royal  protection  over  them  as  a  distinct  and  separate 
people.  The  Sultan  granted  their  petition,  and  issued  a 
special  firman,  in  Vv'hich  they  were  acknowledged  as  a  sepa- 
rate church  and  nation,  and  which  also  granted  them  special 
privileges  with  other  nations,  and  vouchsafed  the  protection  of 
his  dominion  over  them. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  firman  : — 

PROTESTANT  CHARTER  OF  1847. 
'"■To  Ills  Excellency  The  Pasliali  Comptroller  of  the  Citg  Jlrvemie : 

Whereas,  The  Christian  subjects  of  the  Ottoman  Government 
professing  Protestantism  have  experienced  difficulty  and  embarrass- 
ments from  not  being  hitherto  under  a  -special  and  separate  jurisdic- 
tion and  naturally  the  Patriarch  and  the  Heads  of  the  sects  from 
which  they  hare  separated  not  being  able  to  superintend  their  af- 
fairs; and 

Wiicreas,  It  is  in  contravention  to  the  supreme  will  of  his  Im- 
perial Majesty,  our  Gracious  Lord  and  Benefactor  (may  God  increase 
him  in  years  and  power),  animated,  as  he  is,  with  feelings  of  deep 
interest  and  clemency  towards  all  classes  of  his  subjects,  that  any  of 
them  should  be  subjected  to  grievance ;  and 

Whereas,  The  aforesaid  Protestants,  in  conformity  with  the 
creed  professed  by  them,  do  form  a  separate  community : 

It  is  his  Imperial  Majesty's  supreme  will  and  command,  that,  for 
the  sole  purpose  of  facilitating  their  affairs  and  of  securing  the  wel- 

-55 


fare  of  said  Protestants,  the  admiuistration  tliereof  should  be  hence- 
for\yard  confided  to  Your  Excellency,  together  with  the  allotment 
of  the  taxes  to  which  they  are  subjected  by  law;  that  you  do  keep  a 
separate  register  of  their  births  and  deaths  in  the  bureau  of  your  de" 
partment,  according  to  the  system  observed  with  regard  to  the  Latin 
subjects;  that  you  do  issue  passports  and  permits  of  marriage,  and 
that  any  person  of  established  character  and  good  conduct  chosen 
by  them  to  appear  as  their  Agent  at  the  Porte  for  the  transaction 
and  settlement  of  their  current  affairs,  be  duly  appointed  for  that 
purpose. 

Such  are  the  Imperial  Commands,  which  you  are  to  obey  to  the 
letter. 

But  although  passports  and  the  allotment  of  taxes  are  placed 
under  special  regulations  which  cannot  be  infringed  upon,  you  will 
be  careful  that,  in  pursuance  of  his  Majesty's  desire,  no  taxes  be  ex- 
acted from  the  Protestants  for  permits  of  marriage  and  registration  ; 
that  any  necessary  assistance  and  facility  be  afforded  to  them  in  their 
current  affairs  ;  that  no  interference  whatever  be  permitted  in  their 
temporal  or  spiritual  concerns  on  the  part  of  the  Patriarch,  monks, 
or  priests  of  other  sects ;  but  that  they  be  enabled  to  exercise  the 
profession  of  their  creed  in  security,  and  that  the}''  be  not  molested 
one  iota,  either  in  that  respect,  or  in  any  other  way  whatever." 
Xov.  15,  1847. 

The  following  is  also  a  copy  of  the 

IMPERIAL  PROTESTANT  CHARTER  OF  1850. 

"To  m}^  Yizier,  Mohammed  Pashah,  Minister  of  Police  at  my 
Capital,  the  honorable  Minister  and  glorious  Counsellor,  the  Model  of 
the  World,  and  Regulator  of  the  Affairs  of  the  Community,  who, 
directing  the  public  interests  with  sublime  prudence,  consolidating 
the  structure  of  the  Empire  with  wisdom,  and  strengthening  the 
columns  of  its  prosperity  and  renown,  is  the  recipient  of  every  grace 
from  the  Most  High-    May  God  prolong  his  glory. 

When  this  Sublime  and  August  Mandate  reaches  you,  let  it  be 
known  that, 

Whereas,  Hitherto  those  of  my  Christian  subjects  who  have  em- 
braced the  Protestant  faith  have  suffered  inconvenience  and  difficul- 
ties, in  consequence  of  their  not  being  placed  under  a  separate  and 
special  jurisdiction,  and  in  consequence  of  the  Patriarchs  and  Pri- 
mates of  their  old  creeds,  which  they  have  abandoned,  naturally  not 
being  able  to  administer  their  affairs ;  and 

56 


Whereas,  In  necessary  accordance  with  my  Imperial  compas- 
sion, which  extends  to  all  classes  of  my  subjects,  it  is  contrary  to  my 
Imperial  pleasure  that  anj--  one  class  of  them  should  be  exposed  to 
trouble ;  and 

WJisreas,  By  reason  of  their  faith,  the  above-mentioned  already 
form  a  separate  community,  it  is,  therefore,  my  Royal  compassion- 
ate will,  that,  by  all  means,  measures  be  adopted  for  facilitating  the 
adjninistration  of  their  affairs,  so  that  they  may  live  in  peace,  quiet, 
and  security. 

Let,  then,  a  respectable  and  trustworthy  person,  acceptable  to 
and  chosen  by  themselves,  from  among  their  own  number,  be  ap- 
pointed, with  the  title  of  "Agent  of  the  Protestants,"  who  shall  be 
attached  to  the  department  of  the  Minister  of  Police. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Agent  to  have  under  his  charge  the 
register  of  the  members  of  the  community,  which  shall  be  kept  at 
the  police.  The  Agent  shall  cause  to  be  registered  therein  all  births 
and  deaths  in  the  community.  All  applications  for  passports  and 
marriage  licenses,  and  special  transactions  of  the  community,  that 
are  to  be  presented  to  the  Sublime  Porte,  or  to  any  other  department, 
must  be  given  under  the  oflicial  seal  of  this  Agent. 

For  the  execution  of  my  Y»dll,  this,  my  Royal  Mandate  and  Au- 
gust Command,  has  been  specially  issued  and  granted  from  my  Im- 
perial chancery. 

Hence,  thou,  the  minister  above  named,  in  accordance  with  the 
explanations  given,  will  execute  to  the  letter  the  preceding  ordi- 
nance ;  except  that,  as  the  collection  of  capitation  tax,  and  the  de- 
livery of  passports  are  subjected  to  specific  regulations,  you  will  not 
do  anything  contrary  to  them.  You  will  not  permit  any  thing  to 
be  required  of  them,  on  pretence  of  fees  or  expenses,  for  marriage 
licenses  or  registration. 

You  will  see  to  it  that,  like  the  other  communities  of  the  Em- 
pire, in  all  their  affairs,  and  in  all  matters  appertaining  to  their 
cemeteries  and  places  of  worship,  they  should  have  every  facility 
and  needed  assistance.  You  will  not  permit  that  any  of  the  other 
communities  should  in  any  way  interfere  with  their  rites,  or  with 
their  religious  concerns ;  and,  in  short,  in  no  wise  with  any  of  their 
affairs,  secular  or  religious  ;  that  thus  they  may  be  enabled  to  exer- 
cise the  usages  of  their  faith  in  security. 

And  it  is  enjoined  upon  you  not  to  allow  them  to  be  molested 
an  iota  in  these  particulars,  or  in  any  others,  and  that  all  attention 
and  perseverance  be  put  in  requisition  to  maintain  them  in  quiet 
and  security.    And  in  case  of  necessity,  they  are  permitted  to  make 

57 


representations  re;2;arding  tlieir  affairs  tlirougli  llieir  Agent  to  the 
Sublime  Porte. 

Wlien  this,  my  Imperial  will,  shall  be  brought  to  jouv  knowl- 
edge and  appreciation,  you  will  have  this  August  Edict  registered 
in  the  proper  department,  and  cause  it  to  be  perpetuated  in  the 
hands  of  the  above-mentioned  subjects,  and  you  will  see  to  it  that 
its  requirements  be  alwa^^s  executed  in  tlieir  full  import. 

Thus  be  it  known  to  thee,  and  respect  my  sacred  signet. 

Written  in  the  holy  month  of  Moharrem,  A.  H.  12G7  (Novem- 
ber, 18.50). 

Given  in  the  protected  city  of  Constantinople." 


58 


CHAPTER  XI 


Until  now,  the  need  of  separate  churches  or  houses  of 
worship,  schools,  cemeteries,  &c.,  had  never  occurred  to 
them,  much  less  the  support  of  ministers,  teachers,  and  na- 
tional representatives  to  protect  them  in  their  rights  before 
the  Turkish  government,  and  a  station  wherein  these  repre- 
sentatives should  reside,  together  with  the  payment  of  vari- 
ous taxes,  duties,  and  tribute  money  to  the  government,  to 
say  nothing  about  the  support  of  their  poor. 

Thus  placed  in  peculiarly  trying  circumstances,  they 
were  surrounded  with  many  temptations.  The  religious  sys- 
tem which  was  greatly  cherished  by  them,  wielded  its  influ- 
ence against  them.  Even  their  friends  and  former  ecclesi- 
astics regarded  them  as  outcasts.  It  is  true  that  open  perse- 
cutions had  ceased  since  they  were  under  the  protection  of 
the  government,  yet  those  who  had  hitherto  been  employed 
as  mechanics,  and  in  various  other  ways,  were  compelled  to 
seek  employment  in  strange  cities.  Many  thus  situated,  ran 
well  for  a  time,  but  being  surrounded  by  a  thousand  worldly 
influences,  the  word  of  life  was  choked  in  them,  and  they  con- 
tinued no  more  in  the  narrow  path.  But  he  who  was  deeply 
interested  in  the  truth,  stood  firm  upon  the  mighty  rock  of 
salvation,  through  these   sore  troubles,  and  bitter  hardships 

59 


against  the  numerous  trials  and  temptations  with  which  their 
paths  were  beset. 

Under  these  trying  circumstances,  through  the  influence 
of  the  good  Missionaries,  the  hand  of  charity  was  extended 
to  them,  from  the  Christian  aid  societies  of  America,  and  in 
this  way  they  were  enabled  to  build  common  houses  of  wor- 
ship, which  also  served  the  purpose  of  schools. 

Strange  to  say  that  notwithstanding  many  bitter  persecu- 
tions, these  schools  found  favor  among  the  people,  and  many 
of  the  best  Armenian  families  sent  their  children  to  them. 
This  the  Priests  tried  to  oppose,  but  they  were  answered  by 
those  of  their  flocks  who  patronized  those  schools,  that  since 
their  children  had  been  attending  them ,  they  were  not  heard 
to  blaspheme,  or  known  to  lie,  and  showed  far  greater  obe- 
dience than  before  (what  a  powerful  rebuke  to  their  own  sys- 
tem of  morals !),  all  this  showing  that,  although  outwardly 
persecuted,  there  was  a  growing  sentiment  of  respect  for 
Protestantism. 

The  Bible  now  being  made  accessible  to  the  people,  be- 
gan to  be  read,  and  many  questions  arose  in  their  minds. 
These  were  much  discussed  and  were  often  referred  to  the 
priests  during  their  pastoral  visits,  but  these  were  unable  to 
give  satisfactory  answers  to  these  questions.  A  lady  upon  a 
certain  occasion  referred  a  question  to  the  priest  of  her  par- 
ish, but  he  was  unable  to  answer  it.  He  afterwards  referred 
to  the  matter  in  the  presence  of  a  number  of  other  officials 
by  whom  he  was  at  the  time  surrounded,  and  angrily  asked, 
"Of  the  few  who  attend  the  Protestant  chnrch,  do  you  for  a 
moment  imagine  that  even  all  those  are  Protestants  ?"  "Nay, 
more,"  was  the  reply,  "our  houses,  our  homes  are  full  of  them 
and  their  books." 

60 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


The  Missionaries  at  this  period  of  their  work,  were  not 
only  more  energetic  in  the  administration  of  the  word  of  life 
to  this  new  flock,  but  they  had  a  special  zeal  to  better  their 
condition  temporally.  By  a  prudent  and  judicial  manage- 
ment of  their  work,  they  demonstrated  to  the  people  that 
Christianity  does  not  only  make  people  morally  .better,  but 
that  it  improves  their  temporal  condition.  Under  their  im- 
mediate instruction  and  care,  were  produced  several  well  edu- 
cated native  ministers,  whom  they  highly  respected,  as  earnest 
coworkers  in  God's  heritage.  They  also  had  great  sympathy 
with  their  flocks,  and  gready  cherished  those  who  were  born 
to  them  in  the  Gospel.  By  the  native  Christians,  Dr.  Goodell 
was  called  their  father ;  Dr.  Hamlin,  their  second  Illumina- 
tor.    Dr.  Smith  was  also  greatly  revered  and  loved  by  them. 

At  the  time  when  the  cholera  made  its  appearance  in 
Turkey,  Dr.  Smith,  in  his  last  visit  to  Nicomedia,  fearing  for 
the  safety  of  her  people,  instructed  the  brethren  in  the  use  of 
the  remedies  and  preventatives  of  this  terrible  plague.  Short- 
ly after  he  went  to  Aintap,  from  which  place  the  sad  news  was 
received  that  he  was  called  away  from  his  earthly  labors  to 
his  heavenly  rest.  It  was  supposed  that  he  had  fallen  a  vic- 
tim of  this  dread  disease.  This  caused  much  grief  and  sad- 
ness in  the  hearts  of  the  native  brethren. 

6i 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


Directly  opposite  of  Nicomedia,  across  an  arm  of  the  sea, 
there  is  a  village  named  Bardizag,  containing  about  1 200  Ar- 
menian families.  Garabed  Nergararian  was  several  times  sent 
by  the  brethren  to  preach  to  the  people  of  this  village,  but 
they  would  not  even  permit  him  to  enter  the  place,  much  less 
to  preach  to  them.  Zeparar  Harutiun,  the  father  of  the  writer, 
upon  one  occasion  met  with  a  certain  man  from  that  village. 
This  man  boasted  to  Harutiun  that  only  city  people,  because 
of  their  surroundings,  were  liable  to  fall  into  the  ways  of  infi- 
delity, heresies,  and  false  doctrines,  but  that  the  people  of  his 
village,  being  remote  from  such  evil  influences,  remained  in- 
corruptible in  the  holy  religion  of  the  Church,  and  hence,  that 
it  was  impossible  for  Protestantism  to  gain  a  fast  hold  there. 
Harutiun  replied,  ''Were  your  people  indifferent  and  careless 
as  to  religious  matters.  I  should  also  think  as  you,  but,  for 
the  very  reason  which  you  assign,  Protestantism  will  be  all 
the  sooner  embraced  by  them,  gmd  will  become  more  power- 
ful there  than  even  In  the  cities." 

Soon  after  this  G.  Nergararian,  though  with  much  diffi- 
culty, succeeded  In  opening  a  door  to  the  work.  He  was  fol- 
lowed by  Megerdltch,  Harutiun,  and  several  other  brethren, 

62 


who  made  it  their  custom  to  cross  over  to  the  village  of  Satur- 
day evenings  and  hold  secret  meetings  in  the  vineyard  of  the 
Suliyan  Brothers.  A  great  revival  soon  followed  their  labors. 
Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  G.  Nergararian  was  frequently 
refused  audience  before,  a  good  work  was  nevertheless  accom- 
plished here.  The  Missionaries  also  visited  the  place  from 
time  to  time,  and  greatly  aided  in  advancing  the  work.  Among 
the  many  who  embraced  Protestantism,  was  a  brother  of 
Meger  Oglu,  the  chief  or  principal  man  of  the  village.  He 
was  called  Amuja  (uncle)  by  the  people,  because  he  was  a 
brother  to  the  chief  who  was  regarded  as  a  father,  and  also 
because  he  was  an  aged  man  and  greatly  respected. 

He  at  once  began  an  earnest  work  amongst  his  people, 
instructing  them,  and  selling  them  Bibles,  religious  books,  and 
tracts  which  were  furnished  by  the  Missionaries.  It  v/as  no 
unusual  thing  to  see  him  upon  the  streets,  in  the  public  places, 
with  his  basket  of  books  in  one  hand,  and  his  open  Bible  in 
the  other,  crying,  "The  law  of  tbe  Lord  is  perfect,  converting 
the  soul :  the  testimony  of  the  Lord  is  sure,  making  wise  the 
simple.  .  .  .  More  to  be  desired  are  they  than  gold,  yea, 
than  much  fine  gold  ;  sweeter  also  than  honey  and  the  honey- 
comb." "Boys,  'search  the  Scriptures,  for  in  them  ye  have 
eternal  life.'  " 

The  street  boys  would  often  mock  him  crying,  "Amujan 
hodadz  khamci,  gedzaikghagor,"  (Uncle  has  rotten  sardines 
for  sale,  uncle  has  rotten  sardines  for  sale).  Being  deaf,  he 
could  not  understand  them. 

A  large  congregation  was  nov/  formed,  some  of  the  mem- 
bers having  been  formerly  most  strict  members  of  the  Arme- 
nian church. 

The  meetings  were  usually  held  in  the  house  ol  one  of 
6.-. 


the  Suliyan  Brothers,  but  the  congregation  by  this  time  be- 
came very  large,  and  it  was  evident  that  a  more  commodious 
place  of  worship  must  be  found.  Rev.  Dr.  Hamlin  and  Mr. 
Minasyan,  an  Armenian  gentleman  who  now  resides  in 
America,  came  to  their  relief  and  built  them  a  church. 

In  this  connection  it  will  not  be  out  of  place  to  state  that 
these  noble  hearted  men  also  spent  a  large  sum  of  money  in 
establishing  and  erecting  a  church  at  Broosa. 


64 


CHAPTER  XV, 


Once  two  students  were  sent  from  the  Babak  seminary 
to  a  village  of  about  400  Armenian  families,  for  the  purpose 
of  preaching  to  the  people  and  selling  and  distributing  to 
them  religious  books  and  tracts.  The  name  ol  this  village  is 
Ovajuk  and  is  near  to  Bardizag.  After  being  there  a  short 
time,  they  took  a  stroll  to  the  top  of  a  beautiful  hill  near  by 
the  village.  Upon  this  hill  was  built  a  little  chapel  devoted 
to  the  Prophet  Elijah,  in  which  was  placed  a  picture  of  the 
Prophet.  Soon  after  they  had  returned  from  the  chapel,  two 
women  reported  in  the  village  that  these  two  Protestants  had 
defaced  and  desecrated  Elijah's  image.  This  story  was  very 
soon  circulated  through  the  entire  village,  and  the  women  be- 
coming greatly  excited,  rushed  upon  them  and  beat  them 
with  clubs,  hoe-handles  and  whatever  else  they  could  lay  hold 
of,  nearly  tearing  their  clothes  to  pieces.  Their  books  and 
tracts  they  tore  up  into  fragments  and  scattered  them  upon 
the  streets.  The  two  men  barely  escaped  with  their  lives, 
and  concealed  themselves  in  a  ditch  under  some  bushes,  in  a 
field  not  far  from  the  village,  where  they  remained  until  they 
found  an  opportunity  to  make  their  way  back  to  Nicomedia. 

65 


After  the  excitement  ot  the  villagers  had  been  somewhat 
allayed,  they  began  to  see  the  folly  of  their  course,  and  fear- 
ing that  it  might  cause  them  much  trouble,  they  laid  the  mat- 
er before  their  Bishop  and  appealed  to  him  to  help  them  out 
of  the  difficulty  into  which  their  rashness  had  led  them.  He 
therefore  went  to  the  Pasha  and  bribed  him  to  quash  the  case, 
should  it  be  brought  before  the  court. 

The  Protestant  representative  of  Nicom.edia  presented 
the  matter  for  trial,  but  the  Pasha  delayed  it  from  time  to  time, 
and  finally  treated  it  with  indifference.  Seeing  that  it  w^as 
impossible  to  obtain  justice  in  the  case,  the  Missionary  of 
Nicomedia  referred  it  to  the  Enghsh  Ambassador  at  Constan- 
tinople. Through  his  influence  at  the  Sublime  Porte  at  Con- 
stantinople, his  interpreter,  Mr.  Brown,  an  English  gentleman, 
a  very  brave  and  noble  looking  man,  together  with  the  Kavass 
(Pasha's  guard),  was  sent  by  a  special  steanier  to  Nicomedia 
to  make  an  investigation  of  it. 

When  Mr.  Brown  stated  the  object  of  his  visit,  to  the 
Pasha,  who  seeing  that  it  w^as  likely  to  assume  a  serious  as- 
pect before  the  government  and  involve  him  in  great  difficulty, 
most  willingly  agreed  to  an  investigation,  and  at  once  sum- 
moned the  national  representative  from  that  village.  The  re- 
sult was  that  a  number  of  the  parties  who  were  implicated  in 
the  affair,  were  imprisoned  for  a  short  time,  and  the  villagers 
were  compelled  to  pay  damages  covering  the  loss  of  books, 
tracts,  etc. 

From  this  time  on,  the  severe  persecutions  and  the  great 
obstacles  v/hich  heretofore  had  so  much  prevented  the  spread- 
ing of  God's  holy  kingdom,  began  to  disappear,  and  the  life 
giving  principles  of  Christianity  everywhere  showed  signs  of 
spreading  all  over  the  country. 

66 


In  ten  years  not  only  at  Niconiedia  and  surrounding 
country  had  a  glorious  work  been  accomplished,  but  all  over 
the  country  had  the  blessed  seeds  of  the  Gospel  been  scat- 
tered. In  many  native  homes  the  Bible  was  found  translated 
in  their  own  mother  tongue.  Many  churches  had  been  es- 
tablished in  succession  throuo^hout  all  Asia  Minor. 


67 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


Once  the  Rev.  Dr.  Dwight  went  into  a  certain  town  in 
Armenia  to  preach  to  the  people  and  cUstribute  books  amongst 
them.  This  was  soon  reported  to  the  Vicar  Bishop  named 
Bedros,  who  strictly  commanded  his  people  to  have  no  com- 
munication with  him  whatever.  He  also  instituted  a  bitter 
persecution  against  Dr.  Dwight,  so  that  he  could  obtain  neith- 
er food,  lodging,  nor  even  food  for  his  horse.  This  Vartabed,* 
or  Bishop,  demanded  of  his  people  that  they  gather  up  all  the 
books  and  tracts  which  had  been  distributed  amongst  them. 
When  these  were  collected  and  brought  to  him,  he  burnt  them 
in  the  church  yard,  in  the  presence  of  the  people,  but  being 
prompted  out  of  mere  curiosity  to  know  what  they  contained, 
he  secretly  retained  one  of  each  kind  to  read.  After  perusing 
them  carefully,  he  was  finally  convinced  of  the  doctrines  and 
truths  which  they  taught,  and  at  once  ceased  to  persecute  the 
Protestants.  He  also  began  to  exhibit  signs  of  friendship 
towards  them  and  would  sometimes  secretly  invite  them  into 
his  own  private  room^.  This  soon  became  known  to  his  par- 
ishioners who  began  to  chide  him  for  his  acts  of  kindness  and 
leniency  toward  Protestants,  and  finally  waged  a  fierce  perse- 
cution against  him,  so  that  at  last  he  was  obliged  to  flee  to 

*A  vartabed  is  a   coilei^emau  whose   business  is  to   preach  and   to  teach   the 
peo^)le. 

68 


Constantinople  where  he  threw  diniself  under  the  ])rotection 
of  Stephen  Effendi,  the  Protestant  representative  before  the 
Turkish  SubHme  Porte.  Having  in  the  meantime  become  a 
truly  converted  man,  he  was  sent  to  the  brethren  at  Nicome- 
dia,  where  he  might  be  safe  from  danger  or  harm. 

Here  he  married  a  widow  lady,  and  in  time  they  were 
blessed  with  a  little  boy.  It  was  Dr.  Dwight's  happy  privi- 
lege to  baptize  this  little  child. .  The  writer  well  remembers 
the  impressive  words  uttered  upon  that  occasion.  Standing 
in  the  altar  he  spoke  as  follows  : 

"God's  providence  is  wonderful  !  His  word  is  sharper 
than  a  two  edged  sword,  penetrating  the  most  obdurate  heart. 
How  wonderful  are  his  ways  !  This  Vartabed  (pointing  to 
the  man)  was  once  my  greatest  persecutor,  not  e\'en  permit- 
ting his  people  to  give  me  provender  for  my  horse.  But  now, 
how  changed  !  What  a  blessed  work  have  the  truths  of  the 
Gospel  wrought  upon  his  heart !  To-day  he  brings  his  child 
to  me  for  Christian  baptism.  If  we  but  li\'e  faithful  to  our 
calling  and  obey  God's  holy  law,  we  shall  3^et  see  greater 
wonders  than  these."     etc. 

This  man  was  vc7y  rich  while  filling  his  official  station  in 
the  Church  as  a  Vartabed ;  but  in  accepting  the  true  doctrines 
of  Christianity,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  it  all,  and  hence  for 
the  sake  of  Christ's  holy  religion,  he  became  very  poor,  so 
that  hewas  necessitated  to  sell  vegetables  upon  the  street  cor- 
ners in  order  that  he  and  his  family  might  Y\yq. 

One  day,  an  Armenian  gentleman,  who  knew  how  this 
Vartabed  had  formerly  been  honored  in  the  Church,  acci- 
dentally recognized  him  as  he  was  engaged  in  his  usual  occu- 
pation. This  man  having  great  sympathy  for  him,  went  to 
him,  and  said,  "I  am  greatly  surprised  to  see  you  in  this  con- 

69 


dition,  and  am  grieved  at  the  thought  of  it.  Once  you  were 
highly  honored  by  the  Church  as  a  beloved  Vartabed,  wear- 
ing upon  you  the  Sacerdotal  robes,  the  insignia  of  your  sacred 
office.  Acolytfs  and  Priests  served  you.  Your  hands  were 
kissed  by  your  loving  parishioners,  and  into  them  money, 
without  stint,  was  permitted  to  fall.  But  now  how  difterent, 
hov/  degraded !  Why  such  a  condition  of  things  ?  I  pity 
you,  I  pity  your  wit." 

He  meekly  answered,  "For  the  sake  of  the  Gospel  truth, 
for  the  sake  of  my  immortal  soul,  and  for  the  reformation  of 
my  people,  I  will  do  even  worse  things,  if  such  be  required  cf 
me."     What  a  noble  self-sacrificing  spirit ! 

His  little  child  who  was  baptized  by  Dr.  Dwight,  is  now 
a  man  in  the  prime  oi  life,  and  to-day  he  is  an  honored  citizen 
of  the  United  States  of  America. 


70 


CHAPTER  XVII, 


From  what  has  been  said  concerning  the  persecutions  of 
the  Protestant  Christians  in  this  brief  history,  it  must  not  be 
understood  that  the  Armenians  are  a  hostile  and  unkind  peo- 
ple, imperceptible  to  the  truth,  and  enemies  to  the  Christian 
religion.  But  as  we  have  many  times  learned  of  the  early 
Christians,  hovv  they  were  persecuted  from  a  blind  zeal  and 
ignorance  on  the  part  of  their  persecutors,  as  even  in  the  case 
of  St.  Paul  before  his  miraculous  conversion,  so  these  breth- 
ren were  persecuted  by  their  own  people — oftentimes  by  their 
own  kindred — who  thought  they  were  doing  the  will  of  God. 
When  the  Missionaries  came  to  Turkey,  they  were  kindly 
received  by  the  Patriarch  and  clergymen  who  showed  great 
hospitality  and  favor  to  them,  and  encouraged  them  to  build 
up  schools  which  they  promised  to  support,  by  sending  to 
these  their  )^oung  men  and  priests  to  be  educated.  But  after- 
wards the  Jesuits,  who  are  ever  the  uncompromising  enemies 
of  Protestantism,  secretly  stirred  up  the  Armenian  and  Greek 
leaders  against  the  Missiouaries  and  their  work,  whom  they 
now  began  to  regard  with  suspicion  and  envy.  Even  among 
the  Armenian  Priests  and  collcgemen  were  those  who,  though 
they  at  first  persecuted  the  Protestants,  becamiC  not  only 
their  staunchest  friends,  but  also  earnest  workers  for  the  cause 
of  Christ. 

71 


The  Armenians  are  a  most  kind  and  hospitable  people, 
and  for  this  very  reason  the  Missionaries  have  labored  among 
them  with  far  greater  success  than  in  any  other  nation  in  Tur- 
key. To  them  the  name  of  Christ  was  not  new.  The  seeds 
of  Christianity  were,  in  the  beginning,  sowed  in  Armenia. 
Indeed,  the  Armenian  Church  lays  claim  to  Apostolic  origin, 
hence  they  were  the  first  to  embrace  Christianity  as  a  nation 
in  the  third  century.  About  the  year  410,  the  Bible  was 
translated  iato  the  Armenian  language. 

At  a  very  early  age  the  Armenian  nation  was  inclined  to 
civilization  more  than  any  other  nation  in  the  East.  The 
archives  of  Nineveh  are  said  to  have  yielded  some  of  its  rich 
treasures  to  the  nation,  in  the  time  of  the  Parthian,  Vaghar- 
shaeges,  about  a  century  and  a  half  before  Christ.  They  are  an 
interesting  people  and  have  a  literature  pecuharly  their  own, 
which  is  noted  for  its  deep  thought  and  classical  refinement. 
Many  ancient  works,  mostly  manuscripts,  have,  at  different 
times,  been  brought  to  light,  and  are  said  to  be  very  valuable. 
One  of  England's  great  poets  makes  mention  of  several  very 
learned  works,  of  which  he  speaks  very  highly.  Some  of 
these  have  since  been  translated  into  French,  and  are  greatly 
admired  by  the  learned.  He  also  alludes  to  several  other 
interesting  bovoks.  Many  valuable  manuscripts  yet  remain 
locked  up  in  the  Monasteries  in  that  country,  which,  if  brought 
to  light,  would,  no  doubt,  contribute  much  to  ancient  or  Bib- 
lical history.  Their  ancient  theological  writings  are  especi- 
ally fine  and  are  behind  that  of  no  other  nation  in  point  of 
deep  learning  and  sound  Christian  doctrine. 

Their  religious  literature  is  pervaded  by  a  deep  Christian 
sentiment,  a  pious  spirit,  and  a  Christian  zeal  worthy  of  imi- 
tation.    They  were  also  characterized  for  their  missionary 

72 


spirit ;  for  we  learn  from  their  writings  that  they  had  taught 
the  doctrines  of  Christianity  as  far  as  Hindostan.  For  these 
principles  they  were  frequendy  persecuted,  many  of  them  be- 
ing compelled  to  suffer  martyrdom  ;  they  were  frequently  led 
into  war  \\'ith  the  Persians  and  others  on  account  of  these 
things.  The  doubly  barbarous  Persians,  their  most  blood- 
thirsty enemies,  were  pardcularly  troublesome  neighbors  to 
them,  since  they  wished  to  force  them  to  deny  Christianity 
and  accept  the  teachings  of  Zoroaster,  or  Fire  Worship. 
Persecuted  at  first  by  the  Persians  and  others  on  the  one  hand, 
and  afterwards  by  the]  Turks  on  the  other,  they  were  con- 
strained to  forego  their  civil  power  rather  than  that  they  should 
lose  the  Christian  religion.  It  is,  indeed,  a  miracle  that  they, 
to-day,  bear  a  Christian  name  at  all.  Is  it  not  rather  a  won- 
der that  their  history  was  not  buried  in  oblivion  and  lon^  ago 
forgotten  ?  Their  oppressors  were  cruel  and  barbarous,  es- 
pecially the  Persians  and  Turks  who  knev/  no  brounds  to 
their  cruelty,  often  tying  the  aged  In  pairs  and  then  splitting 
them  in  halves.  Infants  were  snatched  from  their  mothers* 
breasts  and  massacred  in  the  presence  of  these  terror  strickea 
mothers.  Nay  more,  the  bowels  of  the  pregnant  were  even 
ripped  open  and  their  unborn  babes  destroyed  before  their 
expiring  eyes.  Thus  the  land  of  their  nativity  was  consecrat- 
ed with  their  life*  blood.  And  all  this  they  suffered  for  the 
sake  ot  the  Christian  religion.  For  this  cause  they  were  forc- 
ed to  part  with  their  beautiful  daughters  who  were  brutally 
treated  and  desecrated  by  their  oppressors. 

It  is  true  that  they,  as  a  church,  have  since  become  cor- 
rupted, but  this  gradually  came  from  their  associations  with 
the  Greeks  and  Romans,  v/hose  superstitions  crept  into  the 
Church  during  their  terrible  struggles  in  those  dark  ages. 

73 


Although  the  Armenian  nation  in  part  to-day  is  held  in 
subjugation  by  the  authority  of  a  miserable  government,  it  is 
the  life  of  Turkey.  Were  it  not  for  this  circumstance,  they 
would  compare  favorably  with  other  enlightened  nations  of 
the  civilized  world.  As  it  is,  they  are  entirely  cut  off  and 
separated  from  all  other  enlightened  peoples.  They  have 
great  capacity  for  improvement  and  only  lack  the  opportunity. 
Among  them  is  a  great  desire  for  improvement,  and  many  of 
their  young  men  are  going  abroad  to  seek  after  the  knowledge 
which  they  so  much  wish.  Not  a  few  of  them  have  been  lead 
to  seek  this  improvement  in  America,  since  the  United  States 
ofters  such  great  opportunities  to  those  who  thirst  after 
wisdom. 

If  the  Missionaries  ever  become  successful  in  the  evange- 
lization of  Turkey,  they  can  only  accomplish  this  through  the 
Armenian  nation,  since  the  Mohammedans  are  unapproacha- 
ble, while  the  Greeks,  like  many,  who  in  the  time  of  Christ 
boasted  themselves  to  be  the  children  of  Abraham,  claim  to 
have  taught  to  the  world  philosophy,  science,  and  refinement, 
through  Aristotle,  Socrates,  Plato,  and  Homer ;  nay  more, 
they  boast  that  their  nation  gave  birth  to  the  early  Church 
Fathers,  who  spread  Christianity  abroad  through  the  Earth. 

Once  a  Greek  proudly  boasted  to  the  writer,  saying,  "We 
have  given  you  Philosophy  and  the  Fathers  of  the  Church, 
and  have  taught  Christianity  to  the  world,  now  do  you  Pro- 
testants presume  to  teach  us  ?"  He  replied,  "It  is  true  you 
have  given  to  the  world  philosophers  and  the  early  Church 
Fathers  and  taught  it  Christianity,  but  the  Europeans  and 
Americans  have  robbed  you  of  your  learning  and  piety,  and 
left  you  nothing  but  your  pride  and  vanity.  What  is  the 
profit  to  you,  if  your  great  great  grandfather  was  rich  and  left 

74 


you  poverty  stricken  ?  Your  church  has  long  since  lost  its 
spiritual  life  and  is  now  sunken  into  superstition." 

The  Greeks  do  not  recognize  any  rites  or  doctrines  ex- 
cept their  own  as  canonical,  and  they  never  received  any  one 
from  another  church  without  baptizing  him. 

We  are,  however,  glad  to  say  that  there  are,  at  present, 
quite  a  number  of  young  men  from  the  Greek  nation,  who  are 
attending  some  of  the  Missionary  seminaries,  and  who  give 
promise  of  much  good  for  the  future.  Upon  these  rests  the 
hope  of  success  in  converting  the  Greeks  to  Protestantism,  for 
though  they  be  proud  and  haughty,  they  will  receive  the  Gos- 
pel when  it  is  brought  to  them  by  those  of  their  own  nation. 


75 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


From  the  Babak  Seminary,  through  the  direct  inliuence 
and  care  of  Dr.  HamUn,  had  gone  forth  many  highly  educat- 
ed and  earnest  native  ministers  who  accompHshed  a  good 
work  among  their  people  to  the  glory  and  honor  of  God. 

Through  the  Female  Boarding  School  established  by 
the  Missionaries  at  Constantinople  under  the  care  of  Dr. 
Goodell,  much  good  was  also  done.  The  native  ladies  who 
graduated  here,  rendered  much  efiicient  aid,  and  have  been 
great  instruments  in  the  hands  of  the  Missionaries  in  advanc- 
ing the  work  of  saving  souls. 

At  this  time  the  Armenian  Patriarch  occupied  a  seat  in 
the  Sublime  Porte  at  Constantinople,  as  the  nation's  repre- 
sentative before  the  Turkish  government;  his  brother, 
Stephen  Effendi,  held  a  like  position  as  the  Protestant  repre- 
sentative. 

In  the  Armenian  nation,  a  great  thirst  for  knowledge  was 
awakened,  and  there  was  a  glorions  expectation  for  the  future, 
both  on  the  part  of  the  Missionaries  and  the  native  Christians 
as  may  be  shown  from  the  following  taken  from  "Forty  Years 
in  the  Turkish  Empire,"  pages  299  and  382  which  says,  "If 
this  work  of  God  goes  forward  in  the  same  proportion  for  ten 
years  to  come,  as  it  has  gone  for  ten  years  past,  there  v.-illbc 
no  further'occasion  for  any  of  us  to  remain  here,  unless  it  be 

76 


to  assist  you  in  bringing  to  a  knowledge  of  these  same  pre- 
cious saving  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  the  Greeks  and  Jews 
and  others  around  you 

'*We  have  been  spared  to  see  great  and  wonderful 
changes,  since  Mrs.  Goodell  and  myself  came  to  this  Eastern 
v/orld,  a  third  of  a  century  ago.  But  those  who  come  after 
us  will  see  still  greater  ;  and  herein  do  we  rejoice  ;  yea,  and 
we  hope,  by  the  mercy  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  rejoice  for 
being  ^sinners  saved  by  grace  alone." 

These  things  not  only  gave  them  great  hope  and  joy, 
and  encouraged  them  in  their  labors,  but  these  were  glorious 
tidings  to  the  American  Christians,  and  the  American  Board 
soon  became  a  mighty  society  which  shed  a  wonderful  influ- 
ence abroad  among  other  Christian  denominations  so  that 
they,  too,  began  to  imbibe  a  Missionary  spirit. 

But  more  than  a  half  century  has  passed  since  the  Mis- 
sionaries commenced  their  work  in  Turkey  ;  have  their  hopes 
and  great  expectations  been  fully  realized  ?  And  have  the 
native  lorethren  enjoyed  the  fruits  of  their  bitter  trials  and  per- 
secutions, for  themselves  and  their  offspring  ?  We  are  oblig- 
e  J  to  answer  sadly,  no. 

In  this  brief  liistory,  it  is  not  the  purpose  of  the  writer  to 
explain  the  many  causes  which  have  retarded  the  realization 
of  these  high  expectations,  suffice  it  to  say  thnt  what  iJiose 
good  Missionaries  sowed,  the}.'  reaped. 

We  read  in  the  Revelations  that  to  St.  John  was  given  a 
little  book,  which  in  his  mouth  was  sweet  as  honey,  but 
which,  when  he  had  swallowed  it,  became  biifcr.  It  is  indeed 
true  ih^at  when  tlie  word  of  God  is  received  in  the  heart,  it 
causes  Mis  people  many  severe  triiils  within,  and  not  unfre- 
qucntly  bitter  persecutions  without ;  but  again  it  is  also  true 

77 


that  in  the  mouth  it  is  sweet,  enlightening  the  understanding 
and  purifying  the  heart,  reforming  individual  lamilies  and 
nations,  helping  them  to  raise  above  sin  and  degredation, 
causing  nations  to  enjoy  the  highest  civilization,  and  above 
all,  giving  them  the  hope  of  Glory  in  which  they  can  trust  in 
life  and  in  death,  and  causing  this  hope  to  be  their  great  sup- 
port in  the  day  of  adversity,  yea,  that  blessed  hope  which 
awaits  the  glorious  appearing  of  our  Lord  and  Savior  Jesus 
Christ  with  all  His  holy  saints. 

Thank  God  that  he  has  a  chosen  people  who,  bringing 
forth  fruits  of  His  glorious  righteousness,  shine  as  lights  into 
the  ends  of  the  dark  corners  of  the  earth,  imparting  to  them 
the  light  and  life  which  they  have  received  from  their  Heav- 
enly Master. 

For  those  who  have  already  labored  faithfully  and  suc- 
cessfully, but  who  have  since  gone  to  their  rest,  what  an  un- 
speakable joy  do  they  now  share  together  with  many  of 
those  for  whom  they  so  earnestly  labored,  in  our  Father's 
house  above  !  Once  they  sowed  in  tears,  now  they  are  reap- 
ing with  rejoicing.  They  are  numbered  with  those  "which 
came  out  of  great  tribulation,  and  have  washed  their  robes» 
and  made  them  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb." 

When  we  cast  our  pennies  into  the  mission  treasury  or 
tract  society,  we  may  not  always  see  the  blessed  results  from 
our  labors  of  love,  but  after  a  short  time,  when  our  work  is 
done,  and  we  enter  our  eternal  home,  the  Heavenly  King- 
dom, there  we  shall  see  great  multitudes  from  all  nations, 
"from  the  east  and  from  the  u est,  and  from  the  north,  and 
from  the  south,"  with  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob,  singing 
hallelujahs  of  salvation,  who  have  been  saved  by  these  hum- 
ble means. 

78 


What  a  pleasant  thought  for  the  contemplation  of  a 
Christian  to  know  that  not  only  he  himself  will  be  happily 
saved  in  that  beautiful  world,  but  that  he  has  also,  by  his 
labors,  been  the  means  of  turning  many  souls  to  righteous- 
ness whereby  they  too  may  have  eternal  life.  In  this  way 
only  will  they  have  secured  the  great  object  of  their  being, 
and  then  will  they  not  have  lived  in  vain.  Then  will  be  en- 
joyed the  glorious  promises  of  our  dear  Savior  through  all 
eternity.  If  even  the  givmg  of  a  cup  of  cold  water  shall  not 
be  without  its  reward,  then  how  much  viore  blessed  will  be 
reward  of  those  who  have  been  the  humble  means  of  saving 
souls  for  whom  Christ  has  died. 

"And  they  that  be  wise,  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of 
the  firmament :  and  they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness,  as 
the  stars  for  ever  and  ever."  "Yea,  saith  the  spirit,  that  they 
may  rest  from  their  labors;  and  their  works  do  follow 
them."  "Well  done  thou  good  and  faithful  servant,  enter 
thou  into  the  joys  of  the  Lord." 

"Therefore,  my  beloved  brethren,  be  ye  steadfast,  un- 
movable,  always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  foras- 
much as  ye  know  that  your  labor  is  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord." 
I  Cor.  15:  58. 

"How  liappy  are  the  Saints  above, 

Who  once  went  sorrowing  here ; 
But  now  they  taste  unmingled  love, 

And  joy  without  a  tear." 


79 


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